Stockholm: Global military expenditure rose by 2.9 percent in 2025, reaching a total of $2.89 trillion, despite a decline in US spending. This marks an 11-year trend of increasing military budgets worldwide as reported by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

According to Oman News Agency, US military spending fell by 7.5 percent following President Donald Trump's decision to halt new military aid to Ukraine. This reduction brought US spending down to $954 billion in 2025. This decrease contrasts with the overall global trend, which saw military spending rise to 2.5 percent of global GDP, the highest since 2009.

The three largest military spenders, the United States, China, and Russia, accounted for $1.48 trillion of the global total, representing 51 percent. Despite the US reduction, Congress has approved an increase in military spending for 2026, which is expected to exceed $1 trillion and may reach $1.5 trillion by 2027.

In Europe, military expenditure surged by 14 percent to $864 billion, driven largely by increased NATO budgets. This represents the strongest annual growth in Central and Western Europe since the end of the Cold War. The report further noted that military spending in both Russia and Ukraine has continued to rise for the fourth consecutive year since the onset of their conflict.

SIPRI's report suggests that persistent international crises and long-term defense spending plans will likely sustain the upward trend in global military expenditure through 2026 and beyond.