On 22 April 2024, SIPRI released new data on global military expenditure. This revealed an upward trend in global military spending following states’ announcements to increase their defence budgets amid continuous violent conflicts and rising tensions in many parts of the world. Given the renewed commitments of several states, including some of the largest military spenders, to continue to invest in their military capabilities, the global military burden (military expenditure as a share of gross domestic product), remained high.
This webinar, organized in cooperation with the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), provided an opportunity to discuss key regional and national military expenditure trends and patterns in light of the rapidly deteriorating security environment. It unpacked the main factors driving changes in military spending levels and examined some of the widespread consequences and impacts of military expenditure.
Event Recording:
Speakers:
- Diego Lopes da Silva, Senior Researcher, Military Expenditure and Arms Production Programme, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
- Ara Marcen Naval, Head of Advocacy, Defence and Security Programme, Transparency International
Moderated by Alexandra Kuimova, Researcher, Conventional Arms and Ammunition Programme, UNIDIR.
When and Where:
25 April 2024, 15:00-16:00 CEST, online. Please consult this website to find your local time.
Participants:
UNIDIR encouraged participation of members of the diplomatic community, civil society, media, international organizations, as well as experts interested in issues pertaining to military spending, corruption risks, transparency, and accountability.
Related Research Products:
- SIPRI’s Fact Sheet on Trends in World Military Expenditure, 2023 was released on 22 April 2024.
- Transparency International Defence and Security’s report Trojan Horse Tactics: Unmasking the Imperative for Transparency in Military Spending was released on 24 April 2024.