The world has launched a new arms race
The new arms race on the planet has a pronounced regional bias. "Front line", rapidly increasing "defense" spending, today are Saudi Arabia and China. According to a report from the International Peace Research Institute, defense spending has increased in Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe. At the same time, the overall “race” even decreased slightly: global military spending declined last year by 0,4%. However, this does not mean that the world is “calming down”. On the contrary, the situation is heating up.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), countries in Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa have increased their "defense" spending. Pretty big "weapons"The growth was demonstrated in the Asia-Pacific Region (APR). But ahead of the rest are formidable Saudis.
As for the USA and the states of Western Europe, they slightly reduced the corresponding expenses.
According to a SIPRI report on the state of arms trade and arms spending for the 2014 year, the total global appropriation for military purposes last year amounted to 1,776 trillion. dollars. This figure is slightly less than in the 2013 year (by 0,4%). Its value in relation to global GDP is equal to 2,4%.
At the same time, the speakers noted that while in Western Europe and in the United States, military spending decreased, the reduction was “compensated” by increased spending on “defense” in Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East. Here, Saudi Arabia “flashed” with spending, setting a record weapon cost increase: 17%.
According to the report, the Saudi Arabian defense budget amounted to $ 80,8 billion.
Recall, Saudi Arabia is now leading a coalition of forces ("Middle Eastern NATO"), fighting against the Hussites in Yemen. Some analysts believe that the main goal of the Saudis and their allies is Iran. However, it is doubtful that the Saudis, weak in military spirit, should decide on open confrontation with Iran.
The press quotes the opinion of Sam Perlo-Freeman, department head at the International Institute for Peace Studies on Military Expenditures. He believes that at the moment the increase in military spending reflects a general deterioration of security in the world. On the other hand, the increase in military spending is caused by corruption, personal interests and the rule of autocrats in other states.
China showed a high increase in military spending. Celestial has increased the corresponding spending on 9,7%. Their volume at the end of last year reached 216 billion.
The leader in the cost of an arms race remains the United States. True, in a crisis Washington reduces the rate of spending. SIPRI reports that in 2014, the United States reduced military spending by 6,5%. However, the world leadership in military spending still remains behind them. The United States spends three times more money on “defense” than the PRC. The authors of the report focus readers on the fact that the expenditures on armaments of the United States remain at the highest level. According to SIPRI, the level of military spending in 2014 in real terms almost corresponds to the peak level of the end of 1980's.
Last year, the United States spent the war (we will call things by their names) 610 billion dollars (3,5% of GDP).
In China, if we take the ratio of its military expenditures to GDP, spending is not so high. According to SIPRI experts, China’s defense expenditures have had a stable figure for GDP for a decade: 2-2,2%. Of course, in absolute terms, this indicator increased (as already indicated above, by 9,7%), since the GDP of the PRC grows every year.
However, SIPRI believes that Beijing underestimates defense spending. Experts have no doubt that official expenses do not include spending on relevant military research, on the import of weapons, on the construction of military infrastructure facilities, and also on military pensions.
The third place in the “rating” of SIPRI was taken by Russia: 4,8% of the global volume of military spending for the last year. According to the speakers, Russia's military spending in 2014 amounted to 84,5 billion dollars (4,5% of GDP). Experts recorded an increase of 2013% compared to 8,1 year.
Experts do not associate the increase in spending in Russia with the Ukrainian crisis. The report specifically states that Moscow planned an increase in spending “before the crisis in Ukraine.” Moreover, due to lower oil prices and cuts in budget items, the defense budget was updated - it decreased by 5%.
The authors of the study also indicated that in real terms, defense spending in Russia next year (that is, in the 2015 year) will increase by approximately 15%. Experts also know what the Russians will spend money on: the cost of purchasing military equipment will increase by more than 60%. In the 2016-17 years, according to SIPRI, the Russians will continue to actively spend money on defense.
It should be mentioned another large country.
Japan in the 2014 year, contrary to expectations, did not show a significant increase in defense spending. Experts point out that spending on weapons of the rising sun was almost preserved at the level of 2013. Tokyo ranks only ninth in the list of countries with the largest military budgets.
Finally, Ukraine occupies a significant place in the report.
Her spending on weapons, according to SIPRI, increased by 23% and amounted to 4 billion dollars (an estimate, by the way, inconclusive). Experts write that the estimate does not include all the costs of the war. In addition, the speakers note that in the 2015 year, Ukraine is going to double military spending.
In the Ukrainian “context”, SIPRI reports with alarm the trend towards augmenting military budgets by the countries of Central Europe, the Baltic States and Scandinavia.
As for other regions, in SIPRI point to a change in the geopolitical situation in the Middle East. It is not difficult to explain the Riyadh record: Saudi Arabia acts simultaneously on several fronts: arms the Syrian "oppositionists", participates in a coalition against the "Islamic State" put together by Washington, and leads its own coalition fighting against the Hussites (Shiites) in Yemen.
Experts also drew attention to the growing tensions in the South China and East China Seas.
“If we take objective data, there is still an increase in military spending,” the newspaper explained "Sight" editor of the magazine "Arsenal of the Fatherland" Viktor Murakhovsky. - This is due to the fact that there is a rise in price of a new generation of weapons and military equipment. SIPRI has a peculiar method of calculation. When you start counting on the physical volume of weapons and military equipment, it turns out that they have increased slightly. Some SIPRI extrapolate, especially for those countries that do not officially give their expenses. This, for example, China and Iran. Then, in the expenses of some western countries they do not take into account something. For example, they do not take into account the expenses of the US Atomic Energy Commission, and there is a considerable share. The National Security Agency, which deals almost exclusively with military tasks, does not take into account the expenses of the National Intelligence Agency, which manages the military satellite group. In addition, the Americans have separate lines for military operations, they are also not taken into account by SIPRI. ”
The expert spoke about the growth of military spending in the Asia-Pacific region: “A few years ago, the Americans declared that they are transferring the main military efforts to the Asia-Pacific region. It is there that the main groups and the largest bases are concentrated. China, accordingly, is increasing its capacity for action not only in the coastal, but also in the far sea zone. He is building now large series of ships and submarines that can operate in the ocean zone. That is, they see a threat from the United States. Nevertheless, their military budget is about three times less than the US. "
The trend, we add, is clear: as a result of a new arms race and new “records” in increasing military budgets, the planet may be on the verge of a world war. From the actions of the Saudis and some of their "coalition" friends who are prone to total Islamism, the Middle East can flare up like a match. If the war covers Iran, the consequences will be virtually impossible to predict. One thing is clear: Saudi Arabia will not be healthy.
As for China, the US is doing everything to weaken its power. The recent voyage of the US Secretary of Defense for the Asia-Pacific region proves exactly that. Ashton Carter quite frankly voiced the goal of two international visits: strengthening military-technical cooperation with Japan and South Korea. It is absolutely clear: the Pentagon intends to build a ring of allies around China.
Probably, following the results of 2015, the increase in military budgets by the countries of Central Europe, the Baltic States and Scandinavia will be recorded. This will be associated with the "Russian threat."
Whether Kiev will increase military spending is a big question. Have something to build up?
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), countries in Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa have increased their "defense" spending. Pretty big "weapons"The growth was demonstrated in the Asia-Pacific Region (APR). But ahead of the rest are formidable Saudis.
As for the USA and the states of Western Europe, they slightly reduced the corresponding expenses.
According to a SIPRI report on the state of arms trade and arms spending for the 2014 year, the total global appropriation for military purposes last year amounted to 1,776 trillion. dollars. This figure is slightly less than in the 2013 year (by 0,4%). Its value in relation to global GDP is equal to 2,4%.
At the same time, the speakers noted that while in Western Europe and in the United States, military spending decreased, the reduction was “compensated” by increased spending on “defense” in Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East. Here, Saudi Arabia “flashed” with spending, setting a record weapon cost increase: 17%.
According to the report, the Saudi Arabian defense budget amounted to $ 80,8 billion.
Recall, Saudi Arabia is now leading a coalition of forces ("Middle Eastern NATO"), fighting against the Hussites in Yemen. Some analysts believe that the main goal of the Saudis and their allies is Iran. However, it is doubtful that the Saudis, weak in military spirit, should decide on open confrontation with Iran.
The press quotes the opinion of Sam Perlo-Freeman, department head at the International Institute for Peace Studies on Military Expenditures. He believes that at the moment the increase in military spending reflects a general deterioration of security in the world. On the other hand, the increase in military spending is caused by corruption, personal interests and the rule of autocrats in other states.
China showed a high increase in military spending. Celestial has increased the corresponding spending on 9,7%. Their volume at the end of last year reached 216 billion.
The leader in the cost of an arms race remains the United States. True, in a crisis Washington reduces the rate of spending. SIPRI reports that in 2014, the United States reduced military spending by 6,5%. However, the world leadership in military spending still remains behind them. The United States spends three times more money on “defense” than the PRC. The authors of the report focus readers on the fact that the expenditures on armaments of the United States remain at the highest level. According to SIPRI, the level of military spending in 2014 in real terms almost corresponds to the peak level of the end of 1980's.
Last year, the United States spent the war (we will call things by their names) 610 billion dollars (3,5% of GDP).
In China, if we take the ratio of its military expenditures to GDP, spending is not so high. According to SIPRI experts, China’s defense expenditures have had a stable figure for GDP for a decade: 2-2,2%. Of course, in absolute terms, this indicator increased (as already indicated above, by 9,7%), since the GDP of the PRC grows every year.
However, SIPRI believes that Beijing underestimates defense spending. Experts have no doubt that official expenses do not include spending on relevant military research, on the import of weapons, on the construction of military infrastructure facilities, and also on military pensions.
The third place in the “rating” of SIPRI was taken by Russia: 4,8% of the global volume of military spending for the last year. According to the speakers, Russia's military spending in 2014 amounted to 84,5 billion dollars (4,5% of GDP). Experts recorded an increase of 2013% compared to 8,1 year.
Experts do not associate the increase in spending in Russia with the Ukrainian crisis. The report specifically states that Moscow planned an increase in spending “before the crisis in Ukraine.” Moreover, due to lower oil prices and cuts in budget items, the defense budget was updated - it decreased by 5%.
The authors of the study also indicated that in real terms, defense spending in Russia next year (that is, in the 2015 year) will increase by approximately 15%. Experts also know what the Russians will spend money on: the cost of purchasing military equipment will increase by more than 60%. In the 2016-17 years, according to SIPRI, the Russians will continue to actively spend money on defense.
It should be mentioned another large country.
Japan in the 2014 year, contrary to expectations, did not show a significant increase in defense spending. Experts point out that spending on weapons of the rising sun was almost preserved at the level of 2013. Tokyo ranks only ninth in the list of countries with the largest military budgets.
Finally, Ukraine occupies a significant place in the report.
Her spending on weapons, according to SIPRI, increased by 23% and amounted to 4 billion dollars (an estimate, by the way, inconclusive). Experts write that the estimate does not include all the costs of the war. In addition, the speakers note that in the 2015 year, Ukraine is going to double military spending.
In the Ukrainian “context”, SIPRI reports with alarm the trend towards augmenting military budgets by the countries of Central Europe, the Baltic States and Scandinavia.
As for other regions, in SIPRI point to a change in the geopolitical situation in the Middle East. It is not difficult to explain the Riyadh record: Saudi Arabia acts simultaneously on several fronts: arms the Syrian "oppositionists", participates in a coalition against the "Islamic State" put together by Washington, and leads its own coalition fighting against the Hussites (Shiites) in Yemen.
Experts also drew attention to the growing tensions in the South China and East China Seas.
“If we take objective data, there is still an increase in military spending,” the newspaper explained "Sight" editor of the magazine "Arsenal of the Fatherland" Viktor Murakhovsky. - This is due to the fact that there is a rise in price of a new generation of weapons and military equipment. SIPRI has a peculiar method of calculation. When you start counting on the physical volume of weapons and military equipment, it turns out that they have increased slightly. Some SIPRI extrapolate, especially for those countries that do not officially give their expenses. This, for example, China and Iran. Then, in the expenses of some western countries they do not take into account something. For example, they do not take into account the expenses of the US Atomic Energy Commission, and there is a considerable share. The National Security Agency, which deals almost exclusively with military tasks, does not take into account the expenses of the National Intelligence Agency, which manages the military satellite group. In addition, the Americans have separate lines for military operations, they are also not taken into account by SIPRI. ”
The expert spoke about the growth of military spending in the Asia-Pacific region: “A few years ago, the Americans declared that they are transferring the main military efforts to the Asia-Pacific region. It is there that the main groups and the largest bases are concentrated. China, accordingly, is increasing its capacity for action not only in the coastal, but also in the far sea zone. He is building now large series of ships and submarines that can operate in the ocean zone. That is, they see a threat from the United States. Nevertheless, their military budget is about three times less than the US. "
The trend, we add, is clear: as a result of a new arms race and new “records” in increasing military budgets, the planet may be on the verge of a world war. From the actions of the Saudis and some of their "coalition" friends who are prone to total Islamism, the Middle East can flare up like a match. If the war covers Iran, the consequences will be virtually impossible to predict. One thing is clear: Saudi Arabia will not be healthy.
As for China, the US is doing everything to weaken its power. The recent voyage of the US Secretary of Defense for the Asia-Pacific region proves exactly that. Ashton Carter quite frankly voiced the goal of two international visits: strengthening military-technical cooperation with Japan and South Korea. It is absolutely clear: the Pentagon intends to build a ring of allies around China.
Probably, following the results of 2015, the increase in military budgets by the countries of Central Europe, the Baltic States and Scandinavia will be recorded. This will be associated with the "Russian threat."
Whether Kiev will increase military spending is a big question. Have something to build up?
Observed and commented on Oleg Chuvakin
- especially for topwar.ru
- especially for topwar.ru
Information