Washington Post: Even as fear of Russia is rising, its military spending is actually decreasing
In terms of its military presence, Russia has rivaled the United States in recent years, launching major operations in Ukraine and Syria and having rising ambitions in the Arctic.
But its spending power may not match its global ambitions for much longer, numbers by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) revealed Wednesday. While global military spending grew last year, Russia’s fell from $69.2 billion in 2016 to $66.3 billion.
It was the first time Russian military expenditure fell since 1998 — the year the country defaulted on its debts.
Throughout the era of President Vladimir Putin, military spending increased continuously, but it could now stay flat or even decrease further over the next few years. The Kremlin’s military spending made up 4.3 percent of its gross domestic product last year, and there are plans to cut it below 3 percent within five years, which could either be achieved through (a rather unlikely) economic growth or radical cuts.
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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 2, 2018
Economy forces Russia to cut military spending for first time in 20 years -- CBC
Russia cuts military spending for first time over past 19 years - report -- TASS
Struggling Russia cuts military spending — and it could weaken its forces worldwide -- Daniel Dickson and Jack Stubbs, Reuters
Why Is Russia Cutting Military Spending? -- David Brennan, Newsweek
China, India have increased military spending, researchers say -- UPI
Global military spending hit its highest level since the Cold War in 2017 with £1.28trillion spent as China closed the gap on America -- Daily Mail
Global military spending in 2017 up by 1.1% -- ABC News/AP
US remains top military spender, SIPRI reports -- Defense News
Russian military spending drops, US ends downward trend: analysis -- The Hill
Ukraine receives Javelins -- Janes 360
Why Russia Fears the Javelin (America's Super Tank-Killer) -- Sebastien Roblin, National Interest
Seoul top office: U.S. troops needed in South even after peace treaty -- UPI
Predator Drones Unlikely to Find Takers in India Despite Strong Pitching by US -- Sputnik
Israel postpones U.S.-based test of Arrow-3 missile interceptor -- Reuters
Only 4 of Germany's 128 Eurofighter jets combat ready — report -- DW
German government clashes over defense spending -- DW
Afghan insurgency and US casualties remain at highest level since 2015 -- Military Times
US warns airmen to beware of laser attacks near China’s military base in Djibouti -- SCMP
Russian threat is an ‘eye opener’ for Marines -- Marine Times
L-3 to provide sensor systems for Navy, Coast Guard vessels -- UPI
Is Secretary of Defense Mattis planning radical changes to how the Navy deploys? -- Defense News
US Navy wants future ship-killing missile for its new frigate, Raytheon says -- Defense News
B-1B Lancer makes emergency landing at Midland International -- MRT
Boom Beta: US Testing Newest B61 Nuclear Gravity Bomb -- Sputnik
Pentagon’s Big AI Program, Maven, Already Hunts Data in Middle East, Africa -- Breaking Defense
Here’s how intelligence agencies will take advantage of machine learning and AI -- C4ISRNet
This is how soldiers could fly drones with their minds -- C4ISRNet
White House reviewing mandated civilian casualty reports: report -- The Hill
The Pentagon bans Huawei and ZTE phones from retail stores on military bases -- The Verge
Navy to stop announcing names of officials fired for misconduct: report -- The Hill
Officer Accused of Negligence in Fitzgerald Collision Will Face Special Court-Martial Next Week as Part of Likely Plea Deal -- USNI News
3 comments:
decreasing perhaps because their economy not doing very well
Russia obviously makes very efficient use of what they are spending. The US and the "west" perhaps should study their approach. We might actually learn something.
While how much a country spends on its military is not unimportant per say, it is the least important stat. A good analogy is "time of possession" in American football except military spending is even less important that. A war against major world powers will turn to the use of WMD very quickly rendering military spending all but irrelevant very quickly.
To the extent that Russia's economy is being affected by the sanctions, this is only temporary as the sanctions aren't sustainable and, in the end, the impudent wimps of western Europe are not going to give those that want tougher sanctions against Russia what they want. As for the rest of the world, they are even less likely to do so.
Due to a more sensible tax structure and a more favorable regulatory environment Russia is in a better position economically than America is. The tax cuts and the regulatory reforms pushed through by Trump are but a small down payment in the right direction. More needs to be done.
At least the Russian leadership does have sense enough to know that resources are finite. It seems our leaders would rather continue spending us into bankruptcy on fruitless military operations around the world that not only don't advance our interests but actually undermine them.
Agreed .
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