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The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released, Monday, a new report on military expenditure in 2019. «Global military expenditure is estimated to have been $1,917 billion in 2019, the highest level since 1988. The total was 3.6% higher in real terms than in 2018 and 7.2% higher than in 2010», read the report.
The report reveals that «the five biggest spenders in 2019 were the United States, China, India, Russia and Saudi Arabia, which together accounted for 62% of global military spending».
The report also indicates that «military spending in 2019 increased in Burkina Faso (22%), Cameroon (1.4%) and Mali (3.6%); while they decreased in Chad (-5.1%), Niger (-20%) and Nigeria (-8.2%)».
The increase was also seen in North African and Morocco. «Military spending by countries in North Africa is estimated to have totalled $23.5 billion in 2019, representing 57 per cent of the total for Africa», the report revealed.
It explains that «amid long-standing tensions between Algeria and Morocco, domestic insurgencies and continuing civil war in Libya, military spending in the subregion was 4.6% higher than in 2018 (see figure 3) and 67% higher than in 2010».
Morocco and Algeria
For instance, last year, the Kingdom spent $3.761 billion on weapons. The number increased by $64 million when compared to 2018 when the country had spent $ 3.697 billion.
However, this amount remains lower than that of Algeria. According to SIPRI, the Eastern neighbor spent last year $10.33 billion on armaments, which is $750 million more than what was spent in 2018. The report stresses, in this regard, that the increase in Algeria has continued on a noticeable trend since 2000, as the country devotes 6% of its GDP to military spendings.
The report notes an increase in Tunisian military spending, after slight increases in 2016 and 2018. Thus, spending in the country also goes from $844 million recorded in 2018 to $1.039 billion in 2019, hence an increase of $195 million.
But just like last year, neither Morocco nor Tunisia are in the top 40 spenders. While the United States and China keep their places, the report explains that «the recent increase in American military spending is largely based on the perception of a return to rivalry between the great powers». The top 5 in this ranking includes India, Russia and Saudi Arabia, while Algeria is ranked at the 23rd place.
