The militarisation of geopolitics: New trends in global defence spending

• Published date: 07 May 2024
• Publication title: Mail & Guardian: Web Edition Articles (Johannesburg, South Africa)

This reflects a world increasingly characterised by geopolitical tensions and security uncertainties. This surge, the most pronounced since 2009, depicts not only a quantitative increase in military investment but also deeper geopolitical shifts and strategic recalibrations among nations

This increase in military spending extends across all geographical regions, painting a worrisome picture of global security dynamics. For the first time in over a decade, military expenditure rose in all five regions identified by the Stockholm institute, with significant upticks observed in Europe, Asia and Oceania, and the Middle East. Central to this trend is the behaviour of major powers, with $1.321 trillion, the United States, China and Russia, whose combined military spending constitutes a substantial portion — 54% — of the global total. Despite varying regional dynamics and security concerns, these nations have prioritised bolstering their military capabilities, signalling a strategic commitment to assertiveness and deterrence.

This rise in military investment underscores the persistent drumbeat of global tension. The US has amplified its commitment to defence, with a staggering allocation of $886 billion for 2024, a contrast to the $618.7 billion of 2017 — an increase exceeding 40% in only seven years. The US grapples with the twin spectres of geopolitical rivalry and military modernisation, as justified by Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin. His recent remarks highlight fortifying national defences in the face of an assertive China. The proposed increase in military expenditure aims to bolster US capabilities, particularly in the Asia-Pacific theatre, where tensions simmer and alliances are tested.

Measures such as fortifying Guam and Hawaii reflect a strategic pivot towards deterring potential adversaries and preserving regional stability. Moreover, global hotspots, from the Russia-Ukraine standoff to the Gaza conflict, reflects the US's entanglement in great power competition. Such complexities, coupled with pressures from influential interest groups, including the defence industry, is compelling the US administration to augment its military budget. The calculus of hegemony intertwines with the imperatives of security and strategic foresight in the American strategic intent.

The geopolitical tensions are particularly pronounced in Eastern Europe, where Russia's substantial increase in military spending, coupled with Ukraine's efforts to narrow the spending gap...