World Military Spending Nearly $1.7t, KSA Ranks 3rd!
Local Editor
Global military spending rose in 2015 to nearly $1.7 trillion, the first increase in several years, driven by conflicts including the battle against Daesh [the Arabic acronym for the terrorist "ISIS" group], and the Saudi-led war in Yemen.
In this regard, a study by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute noted that the Chinese expansion in the South China Sea and Russia's annexation of Crimea and support of Ukrainian separatists also accounted for nudging spending up 1 percent in real terms, compared to 2014.
For weapons manufacturers, the nonstop pace of airstrikes targeting Daesh militants in Iraq and Syria, as well as Saudi-led bombing of Yemen, means billions of dollars more in sales.
But activists question continued US arms deals to Saudi Arabia as its war on Yemen that started in March 2015 has killed civilians, while American war jet sales to both emerging military buyer Qatar and longtime ally Kuwait appear stalled.
In this regard, the air campaign waged by the Saudi-led aggression in Yemen has been increasingly criticized by human rights activists over civilian deaths. Airstrikes account for 60 percent of the 3,200 civilians killed in the conflict, according to the UN, which criticized Saudi strikes that have hit markets, clinics and hospitals.
Despite criticism, arms deals continue, especially from the US. Ironically, State Department spokesman David McKeeby said the United States remained "deeply concerned by the devastating toll of the crisis in Yemen," as he was asked about the civilian casualties there.
But both the Yemen war and the fight against Daesh likely will keep arms manufacturers busy into 2016.
Since May, 2015, the US has made $33 billion in arms sales to its Gulf allies, including an $11.25-billion deal with Saudi Arabia that includes four armed warships to modernize its navy.
In all, the United States, with $596 billion in war spending, and China, with an estimated $215 billion, led all countries in 2015, SIPRI report noted. Saudi Arabia, however, came in third with spending of $87.2 billion - double what it spent in 2006, according to the report.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
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