Defence spending 2014: the big picture

According to the 2015 Military Balance, published in the spring of 2015 by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), global defence expenditure hit historic highs in 2014. With a total of $1,604 trillion spent, the overall increase is largely attributable to three regions: Asia, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and Russia and the post-Soviet space.

This growth has been accompanied by more assertive, if not overtly belligerent actions by some states in their respective environments, in turn triggering military build-ups at regional level.

By Katharina Wolf and Antonio Missiroli.

[The Military Balance is The International Institute for Strategic Studies’ annual assessment of the military capabilities and defence economics of 171 countries worldwide. It is an important resource for those involved in security policy-making, analysis and research].

• Primary Source

IISS: Publications: The Military Balance 2015 https://www.iiss.org/en/publications/military%20balance/issues/the-military-balance-2015-5ea6

ESO: Background information: Burden Sharing and NATO’s 2 Percent Goal http://www.europeansources.info/record/burden-sharing-and-natos-2-percent-goal/

---