Context:
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India’s military expenditure in 2024 rose by 1.6% to reach $86.1 billion, nearly nine times larger than Pakistan’s $10.2 billion. This comes amid renewed tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack.
Key Highlights
- India’s Global Rank: 5th largest military spender worldwide
- Pakistan’s Spending: $10.2 billion, far smaller than India’s allocation
- Top Five Military Spenders:
- United States
- China
- Russia
- Germany
- India
- These five nations accounted for 60% of total global military spending ($1,635 billion).
India’s Military Context
- Steady annual growth (+1.6%) despite regional challenges
- Investment focus: Modernisation of armed forces, border security, cyber capabilities, and indigenisation under ‘Make in India‘ initiatives
- Strategic imperatives include tensions with China and ongoing security concerns regarding Pakistan.
Global Military Spending Trends
- China:
- Spent an estimated $314 billion (+7% growth)
- Marked 30 consecutive years of spending increases
- Focus areas: Cyberwarfare, nuclear arsenal expansion, and PLA modernisation
- Accounted for 50% of all military expenditure in Asia and Oceania
- Russia:
- Spending surged 38% to $149 billion
- Military spending is now 7.1% of GDP, representing 19% of total government spending
- Reflects the intensification of the Ukraine conflict
- Ukraine:
- Military expenditure reached $64.7 billion (+2.9%)
- 34% of Ukraine’s GDP — the highest military burden globally
- Europe:
- Military expenditure (including Russia) rose 17% to $693 billion
- Spending surpassed Cold War levels due to Russia-Ukraine war escalation
Strategic Implications
- India’s rising defence budget reflects its growing emphasis on regional security, force modernisation, and countering China’s military assertiveness.
- The disparity between India and Pakistan’s defence budgets underlines a significant regional military imbalance.
- China’s continued rise as Asia’s dominant military spender challenges strategic stability in the Indo-Pacific.
