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Turkey rises to 17th place in global military spending: SIPRI report
24.04.2025
By Turkish Minute
Source: https://www.turkishminute.com/2025/04/28/turkey-rises-to-17th-place-in-global-military-spending-sipri-report/
Turkey climbed to 17th place among the world’s biggest military spenders in 2024, up from 19th place a year earlier, according to the latest report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
SIPRI is a Swedish-based organization dedicated to research on conflict, armaments and arms control.
The think tank’s annual assessment shows Turkey’s defense expenditure reached $25 billion in 2024, representing a 12 percent increase from 2023.
Over the past decade, Turkey’s military spending has more than doubled, with a 110 percent increase since 2015.
SIPRI data indicate Turkey allocated 1.9 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) to defense in 2024, approaching NATO’s 2 percent spending target.
However, according to the NATO secretary general’s 2024 Annual Report, Turkey’s defense spending has already reached 2.09 percent of GDP, amounting to $19.39 billion in 2024, exceeding the alliance’s benchmark.
This discrepancy between SIPRI and NATO figures stems from differences in how military expenditure is calculated. While NATO typically focuses on direct defense-related costs based on alliance definitions, SIPRI applies a broader methodology that can include additional security-related expenses.
The SIPRI report reveals that Turkey’s share of global military spending stands at 1 percent, with its substantial year-on-year increase.
Ongoing operations in Syria, tensions with Kurdish groups, maritime disputes in the eastern Mediterranean and the wider security impact of the Ukraine-Russia war have all contributed to Turkey’s rising military investments.
Situated at NATO’s southeastern flank and controlling key waterways like the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits, Turkey’s enhanced defense posture holds broader significance for the region and alliance.
World military expenditure reached a record $2.7 trillion in 2024, marking a 9.4 percent increase from 2023 — the steepest year-on-year rise since the end of the Cold War.
More than 100 countries worldwide increased their defense budgets compared to the previous year. The five biggest military spenders — the United States, China, Russia, Germany and India — accounted for 60 percent of global defense expenditure.
The US remained the world’s top military spender with $997 billion, more than three times that of China, which ranked second with an estimated $314 billion.
In the Middle East, Israel recorded the most notable increase, with military spending rising by 65 percent to $46.5 billion in 2024, attributed to the ongoing war in Gaza and tensions with Hezbollah in Lebanon. Despite political and economic instability, Lebanon also increased its defense budget by 58 percent.
Germany made a significant leap in the rankings, climbing to fourth place in 2024 from seventh place in 2023, with military spending reaching $88.5 billion after a 28 percent year-on-year increase. This marks the third consecutive year of rising defense expenditure for Germany and establishes it as the biggest military spender in Central and Western Europe for the first time since reunification.
“For the first time since reunification Germany became the biggest military spender in Western Europe, which was due to the €100 billion special defence fund announced in 2022,” Lorenzo Scarazzato, Researcher with the SIPRI Military Expenditure and Arms Production Programme, was quoted by Deutsche Welle as saying.
“The latest policies adopted in Germany and many other European countries suggest that Europe has entered a period of high and increasing military spending that is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.”
In Europe military spending rose by 17 percent to $693 billion, with all European countries except Malta increasing their defense budgets.
Poland allocated 4.2 percent of its GDP to defense in 2024, the highest percentage among European NATO members, while Sweden, which joined NATO in 2024, increased its military spending by 34 percent.
NATO members collectively spent $1.506 trillion on defense in 2024, representing 55 percent of global military expenditure. Eighteen of the alliance’s 32 members met or exceeded the 2 percent of GDP spending target in 2024, up from 11 countries in 2023.
In the Asia-Pacific region, Japan increased its defense budget by 21 percent to $55.3 billion in 2024, while China continued its military modernization plans with a focus on advanced technologies including stealth aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and underwater vehicles.
DW quoted SIPRI expert Nan Tian as warning that increased investment in advanced military technologies by major defense companies in the Asia-Pacific region “risks dragging the region into a dangerous spiral of armament.” China’s military actions and rhetoric, along with that of North Korea, have heightened threat perceptions among neighboring countries.
The SIPRI report underscores a world where security concerns are intensifying across multiple regions. Rising defense budgets — from Europe to the Middle East and Asia-Pacific — reflect an international environment marked by renewed geopolitical rivalry and regional instability.
As countries like Turkey increase their investments in security, the global trend suggests that high and growing military spending is likely to persist for the foreseeable future.
24.04.2025
By Turkish Minute
Source: https://www.turkishminute.com/2025/04/28/turkey-
Turkey climbed to 17th place among the world’s biggest military spenders in 2024, up from 19th place a year earlier, according to the latest report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
SIPRI is a Swedish-
The think tank’s annual assessment shows Turkey’s defense expenditure reached $25 billion in 2024, representing a 12 percent increase from 2023.
Over the past decade, Turkey’s military spending has more than doubled, with a 110 percent increase since 2015.
SIPRI data indicate Turkey allocated 1.9 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) to defense in 2024, approaching NATO’s 2 percent spending target.
However, according to the NATO secretary general’s 2024 Annual Report, Turkey’s defense spending has already reached 2.09 percent of GDP, amounting to $19.39 billion in 2024, exceeding the alliance’s benchmark.
This discrepancy between SIPRI and NATO figures stems from differences in how military expenditure is calculated. While NATO typically focuses on direct defense-
The SIPRI report reveals that Turkey’s share of global military spending stands at 1 percent, with its substantial year-
Ongoing operations in Syria, tensions with Kurdish groups, maritime disputes in the eastern Mediterranean and the wider security impact of the Ukraine-
Situated at NATO’s southeastern flank and controlling key waterways like the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits, Turkey’s enhanced defense posture holds broader significance for the region and alliance.
World military expenditure reached a record $2.7 trillion in 2024, marking a 9.4 percent increase from 2023 — the steepest year-
More than 100 countries worldwide increased their defense budgets compared to the previous year. The five biggest military spenders — the United States, China, Russia, Germany and India — accounted for 60 percent of global defense expenditure.
The US remained the world’s top military spender with $997 billion, more than three times that of China, which ranked second with an estimated $314 billion.
In the Middle East, Israel recorded the most notable increase, with military spending rising by 65 percent to $46.5 billion in 2024, attributed to the ongoing war in Gaza and tensions with Hezbollah in Lebanon. Despite political and economic instability, Lebanon also increased its defense budget by 58 percent.
Germany made a significant leap in the rankings, climbing to fourth place in 2024 from seventh place in 2023, with military spending reaching $88.5 billion after a 28 percent year-
“For the first time since reunification Germany became the biggest military spender in Western Europe, which was due to the €100 billion special defence fund announced in 2022,” Lorenzo Scarazzato, Researcher with the SIPRI Military Expenditure and Arms Production Programme, was quoted by Deutsche Welle as saying.
“The latest policies adopted in Germany and many other European countries suggest that Europe has entered a period of high and increasing military spending that is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.”
In Europe military spending rose by 17 percent to $693 billion, with all European countries except Malta increasing their defense budgets.
Poland allocated 4.2 percent of its GDP to defense in 2024, the highest percentage among European NATO members, while Sweden, which joined NATO in 2024, increased its military spending by 34 percent.
NATO members collectively spent $1.506 trillion on defense in 2024, representing 55 percent of global military expenditure. Eighteen of the alliance’s 32 members met or exceeded the 2 percent of GDP spending target in 2024, up from 11 countries in 2023.
In the Asia-
DW quoted SIPRI expert Nan Tian as warning that increased investment in advanced military technologies by major defense companies in the Asia-
The SIPRI report underscores a world where security concerns are intensifying across multiple regions. Rising defense budgets — from Europe to the Middle East and Asia-
As countries like Turkey increase their investments in security, the global trend suggests that high and growing military spending is likely to persist for the foreseeable future.