NEW DELHI: Global military spending has recorded its sharpest year-on-year increase in more than a decade, reaching a record $2.443 trillion in 2023, leaving India the world’s third-largest military spending after the US, China and Russia. It is the fourth largest defense spending country.
Of course, India is not getting the most bang for its buck. The country’s military modernization challenges the enormous pay and pension claims of its 1.4 million-strong military, its weak defense industrial base, and the need for tangible solutions to systematically build military capabilities with appropriate inter-military coordination. continues to be hampered by a relative lack of long-term planning. Prioritization.
In contrast, China is rapidly modernizing its military of 2 million across traditional domains such as land, air, sea, nuclear, space, and cyber, and has recorded 29 military forces.th The “officially declared” military budget has been increasing year-on-year and is almost four times that of India.
Most of China’s military spending is directed toward deterring U.S.-led intervention in Taiwan, the South China Sea, and the East China Sea, while Beijing seeks to de-escalate tensions along the 3,488-kilometre Line of Actual Control with India. They continue to refuse to de-escalate tensions. Additionally, the naval presence in the Indian Ocean region has been steadily strengthened.
Total global military spending rose by 6.8% in real terms in 2023, according to the latest data released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) on Monday.
The top 10 countries in military spending are the United States ($916 billion), China ($296 billion), Russia ($109 billion), India ($84 billion), Saudi Arabia ($76 billion), the United Kingdom ($75 billion), Germany ($67 billion), Ukraine ($65 billion), France ($61 billion), and Japan ($50 billion).Pakistan came in 30th placeth 8.5 billion in spots.
SIPRI also said that this is the first time since 2009 that military spending has increased in all five geographic regions: the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Asia and Oceania. “The unprecedented increase in military spending is a direct response to the deterioration of global peace and security. Countries are prioritizing military power, but the increasingly unstable geopolitical and security landscape “There is a danger of falling into a spiral of action and reaction,” said Nan Tian, senior researcher at SIPRI.
The Indian military continues to grapple with critical operational deficiencies in several areas, from fighter jets, submarines, and helicopters to modern infantry weapons, anti-tank guided missiles, and night combat capabilities.
For example, only 28% of the Rs 6.2 billion defense budget for 2024-2025 has been allocated for military modernization. Considering the huge pension allocation of Rs 1.4 billion for 32 million ex-servicemen and retired defense personnel, defense spending is only 1.9% of the projected GDP. Excluding pension claims, it drops to less than 1.5%. At least 2.5% is essential to deter collusive threats from China and Pakistan.
The long delay in establishing a unified theater command also means that the country still lacks an integrated and cost-effective warfighting organization. While China has a Western Theater Command responsible for the entire LAC, India has four Army commands and three IAF commands on its northern border.
Of course, India is not getting the most bang for its buck. The country’s military modernization challenges the enormous pay and pension claims of its 1.4 million-strong military, its weak defense industrial base, and the need for tangible solutions to systematically build military capabilities with appropriate inter-military coordination. continues to be hampered by a relative lack of long-term planning. Prioritization.
In contrast, China is rapidly modernizing its military of 2 million across traditional domains such as land, air, sea, nuclear, space, and cyber, and has recorded 29 military forces.th The “officially declared” military budget has been increasing year-on-year and is almost four times that of India.
Most of China’s military spending is directed toward deterring U.S.-led intervention in Taiwan, the South China Sea, and the East China Sea, while Beijing seeks to de-escalate tensions along the 3,488-kilometre Line of Actual Control with India. They continue to refuse to de-escalate tensions. Additionally, the naval presence in the Indian Ocean region has been steadily strengthened.
Total global military spending rose by 6.8% in real terms in 2023, according to the latest data released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) on Monday.
The top 10 countries in military spending are the United States ($916 billion), China ($296 billion), Russia ($109 billion), India ($84 billion), Saudi Arabia ($76 billion), the United Kingdom ($75 billion), Germany ($67 billion), Ukraine ($65 billion), France ($61 billion), and Japan ($50 billion).Pakistan came in 30th placeth 8.5 billion in spots.
SIPRI also said that this is the first time since 2009 that military spending has increased in all five geographic regions: the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Asia and Oceania. “The unprecedented increase in military spending is a direct response to the deterioration of global peace and security. Countries are prioritizing military power, but the increasingly unstable geopolitical and security landscape “There is a danger of falling into a spiral of action and reaction,” said Nan Tian, senior researcher at SIPRI.
Expanding
For example, only 28% of the Rs 6.2 billion defense budget for 2024-2025 has been allocated for military modernization. Considering the huge pension allocation of Rs 1.4 billion for 32 million ex-servicemen and retired defense personnel, defense spending is only 1.9% of the projected GDP. Excluding pension claims, it drops to less than 1.5%. At least 2.5% is essential to deter collusive threats from China and Pakistan.
The long delay in establishing a unified theater command also means that the country still lacks an integrated and cost-effective warfighting organization. While China has a Western Theater Command responsible for the entire LAC, India has four Army commands and three IAF commands on its northern border.
