New data on global military spending – published today – shows that last year it grew by 2.9% above inflation to a massive $2.887 trillion – setting another record total in the post Cold War period. The report, published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), puts the UK’s spending figure at $89bn, and increase of 32% in the the past ten years and 2.4% of GDP.
The ongoing war in Ukraine has continued to be a major driver of increasing military spending for both Ukraine and Russia, as well as for NATO states supplying military equipment to Kyiv. While Russian spending is up nearly 6% compared to the past year, this is a much smaller increase than the previous year. Ukrainian military spending increased by 20% in the year to 2025, increasing the billions being spent by both sides as the war continues to grind on.
Military spending by NATO states continues to dwarf Russian expenditure. Despite an increase in spending by Moscow, total NATO spending is still many times more at $1581bn. In the Americas, spending was down by 6.6%, driving mainly by a 7.5% decrease in spending by the United States, although there was a slight increase in spending in South America. Spending in Asia and Oceania continued to rise, up by 8.1%. Europe saw another significant increase after last year’s record breaking rise, with 14% more spent in 2025 taking the total to $864bn. the largest year-on-year increase in spending in the post-Cold War period, with spending increasing by 17%.
The data reinforces the picture painted by GCOMS-UK’s analysis of the British government’s Budget last year. This revealed that core military spending will reach almost £62 billion for the coming year. GCOMS-UK analysis also showed that core military spending In 2025-26 will be 5.5 times the budget of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, which is responsible for the UK’s diplomatic and overseas development spending.
The new SIPRI data signals that the governments of most of the wealthiest nations in the world – including the UK – continue to prioritise military spending at the expense of measures that bring real security – such as tackling poverty, inequality and the multiple environmental crises.
Hence, GCOMS-UK echoes the call from the International Peace Bureau (IPB) urging all governments to prioritise the search for peace, a halt to arms races, and rapid, deep reductions in military spending.
