LONDON – Despite a fall in Russia’s military expenditure in 2017, the yearsaw an overall rise of 1.1 percent compared to the previous year – courtesybig spendings by countries like China, India and Saudi Arabia.

A report published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute(SIPRI) has revealed that both China and India continue to power the globalexpenditure on the military. The overall rise in global militaryexpenditure in the year 2017 rose to $1739 billion at a time when Russiareduced its share and the United States remained constant. According toSIPRI, China has a major share in the figure and increased its spendings by5.6 percent to $228 billion. India too increased spendings by 5.5 percentto $63.9 billion – compared to year 2016. The report also noted that thetensions between China and several of its neighbours is fuelling a rise inglobal arms trade even though the traditional giants like Russia and theUnited States have not shown any remarkable change in spendings.

SIPRI, however, did highlight that the United States remains the countrywith the largest military expenditure – by far. The country – at $610million – spent more in the year 2017 than the next seven countries in thelist combined.The report also predicted that the country will see asignificant rise in spendings in 2018.

SIPRI is an independent institute which conducts research on globalsecurity, conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament. It refers tomilitary expenditure as a a total of all expenses incurred by governmentsfor its forces and activities, and that arms spendings is only a part andnot whole of it.