SIPRI Military Expenditure in Eastern Europe rose sharply – Times Online

The Ukraine-war is costly not only for the participating States. Poland and the Baltic States have spent much more money on weapons and soldiers.

13th April 2015 01:05 clock

Ukrainian troops are doing in Zhytomyr. | © Viktor Koshkin / Anadolu Agency / dpa

The war in Ukraine can be military spending in Eastern Europe to rise sharply. According to a new study by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute SIPRI, elevated above all the Ukraine, Russia, Poland and the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and defense budget significantly. For the Western NATO countries SIPRI reported predominantly declines or stagnation. Also considered worldwide spending fell slightly.

In Ukraine, the increases in spending, according to the Institute were compared to the years 2013 and 2014 an estimated 23 percent. Since the actual cost of the ongoing conflict but are difficult to determine, the increase was likely to be higher. For the current year SIPRI expects a doubling of expenditure. About half of them is therefore likely to flow in salaries and pensions, the vast rest of “systematic corruption” be devoured.

Russia has, according to the study, with its military expenditures third in the world after the US and China. Last year, expenses increased accordingly to 8.1 percent – a consequence of both Ukraine crisis and longer-term modernization plans. For 2015 SIPRI expects an increase in Russian military spending by about 15 percent. However, the severe economic and currency crisis in the country could be a countermeasure.

For Poland SIPRI calculated an increase of 13 percent in 2014. In the current year is expected to increase further to 20 percent. So that the country reached the NATO goal of spending at least two percent of gross domestic product for the defense sector. In Lithuania, the researchers expect after an increase of six percent even with an increase of a further 50 percent in 2015. For Estonia SIPRI says 7.3 percent ahead of Latvia and 15 percent.

Overall, the military expenditure amounted world According to a survey last year, about 1.7 trillion euros – a decline of 0.4 percent year on year. Of these, therefore, accounted for 34 percent of the United States, China and twelve percent to 4.8 percent in Russia. Germany occupied reportedly to Saudi Arabia, France, the UK and India, with an estimated 46.5 billion euros and a share of 2.6 percent in eighth place.

In the US military spending fell investigation, according to by 6.5 percent to 610 billion dollars. Since the peak in 2010, the decline was therefore 20 percent, but the costs are still 45 percent above the level before the attacks of September 11, 2001. In the European NATO countries stagnated or declined spending according to figures recently, it but often expects to see growth, even in Germany.

Significant increases in expenditure recorded SIPRI in most other parts of the world. Thus, expenses in Asia and Oceania, within one year by five percent, but 20 percent in Afghanistan. An increase of five percent was also calculated for the Arab region – with 17 percent in Saudi Arabia and 15 per cent in Lebanon and Iraq. An increase of almost six percent, according to SIPRI, there were in Africa, stagnation in South America.

The Swedish Parliament has the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute SIPRI 1966 launched. It provides scientists, politicians and the media with data, analysis and recommendations on international military issues. It is funded largely by the Swedish government. SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) is a platform for cooperation of conflict researchers from around the world and works closely with the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) together.