According to the annual report of the Sweden-based think tank Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, global military spending last year amounted to $2.4 trillion, with projections indicating further growth. In a world plagued by violence, hunger, and disease, this can only be seen as good news for global arms manufacturers and the military-industrial complex, as business is booming in this sector.
The report reveals that the United States topped the list of defense spenders with $916 billion, followed by China, Russia, and India. The U.S. finds itself embroiled in a geopolitical rivalry with both China and Russia, and in the case of Ukraine, it is using the former Soviet state as a proxy battleground against Moscow. Instead of seeking de-escalation, global powers are actively fueling confrontation. For instance, the U.S. recently approved a multibillion-dollar aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, with military components. This aggressive stance is likely to escalate tensions with Moscow and Beijing. Furthermore, it is distressing to see the U.S. providing even more financial support to Israel amidst its ongoing actions against the Palestinian people.
Clearly, the priorities of the world’s wealthiest nations are skewed. While hundreds of millions of people suffer in preventable misery, rich states are pouring obscene amounts into their war machines. Although defense is a legitimate need for all sovereign states, arms races only serve to fuel conflict rather than prevent it. Moreover, many countries in the Global South are compelled to divert scarce resources toward arms, partly to defend themselves against larger, more well-armed neighbors and adversaries.
Amnesty International, in a recent report, has warned that the post-World War II order is on the brink of collapse. The ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East serve as stark illustrations of this fact. Now, it falls upon the international community to either work towards building a more peaceful world or prepare for a new era of perpetual warfare.
