Researchers at a British think tank say countries around the world spent more on defense in 2019 than during any year in the past decade. The International Institute for Strategic Studies says average defense spending increased by four percent from the previous year.
The annual "Military Balance" report says the defense budgets of both the U.S. and China exceeded the global average with an increase of 6.6 percent.
U.S. spending rose by 53.4 billion dollars, an amount almost as big as the entire defense budget of Britain. However, growth in China's defense spending is slowing, reflecting the country's economic woes.
The report concludes the international order built on rules established since World War II is under severe strain. It cites the expiry last year of a key treaty between the U.S. and Russia – the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, or INF.
The annual "Military Balance" report says the defense budgets of both the U.S. and China exceeded the global average with an increase of 6.6 percent.
U.S. spending rose by 53.4 billion dollars, an amount almost as big as the entire defense budget of Britain. However, growth in China's defense spending is slowing, reflecting the country's economic woes.
The report concludes the international order built on rules established since World War II is under severe strain. It cites the expiry last year of a key treaty between the U.S. and Russia – the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, or INF.
◆woe 困難、苦境 literary great sadness