Global military spending surges amid conflicts, rising tensions: think tank

STORY: Global military spending surges amid conflicts, rising tensions: think tank SHOOTING TIME: April 22, 2024 DATELINE: April 23, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:13 LOCATION: Stockholm CATEGORY: MILITARY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute STORYLINE: Global military spending saw its steepest year-on-year increase last year since 2009, amid conflicts, rising tensions and insecurity, a Stockholm-based think tank said on Monday. In its latest report, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said that total global military expenditure reached 2,443 billion U.S. dollars in 2023, an increase of 6.8 percent in real terms from 2022. The United States is the largest global spender. Lorenzo Scarazzato, a researcher at SIPRI's Military Expenditure and Arms Production Program, said that such an unprecedented rise in military spending is a direct response to a global deterioration in peace and security. While countries are prioritizing military strength, they r