He Increase in defense spending in which the planet has embarked, a trend collected in an annual military spending report of the International Institute for Peace Studies of Stockholm (SIPRI) “only increases the possibilities of direct conflict“. “Militarism is the prelude to new wars“. These are the conclusions to which the Center Beyond Studies for Peace And that this Monday presented at a press conference shortly before the blackout that left without light and incommunicado to Space y Portugal.
According to Pere OrtegaDefense and researcher expert at the Center Delàs, “This climb will cause reactions, and follow this path can lead to new conflicts.”
The entity wanted to focus on decisions taken by the government of Pedro Sánchez In this area. “The Spanish State has surrendered to the demands of the Take and the UE“Ortega lamented, before indicating that” it will be the amounts not executed by the other budget items that are destined for defense. “Therefore,” although the government has measured their words and they cannot be called strictly cuts, it is still money that had previously been destined for social policies, but that will now be spent in defense, “said Jordi Calvo Rufanges, coordinator of the Center for Analysis.
Both researchers also denounced Spain’s links with Israelmentioning both those that appear on the public procurement platform, as well as two extra contracts that without being awarded yet, are future projects. “75% of Israel’s military production is exported, and the Spanish government contributes to it,” said Ortega. In addition, he wanted to underline that “the only means to avoid this type of transactions is the embargo“, recalling that this was the main measure that ended the regime of apartheid in South Africa.
The European case
“Europe is the geopolitical block that has been most involved in this militaristic tendency, especially Western Europewith a budget increase of 24%, “said Calvo Rufages. Ukraine It is from afar, with an expense of 64.7 billion dollars, the European country that spends the most in defense. The researchers of the Center Delàs pointed out that in addition to the amount mentioned, another 60,000 million from the budgetary adjustments that other countries have made for the sake of providing military aid to the Slavic country must also be included. Thus, Ukraine becomes the fourth country in the world that spends more money in his army, behind the US, China and Russia. Another European case to highlight is that of Germanythat with the increases introduced after the Ukrainian crisis, it already exceeds the main countries of the international community.
Laëtitia Sedou, an expert in defense who also participated in the press conference, pointed to the threat of a potential Russian attack as the main reason with which politicians try to justify this measure. “The narrative about Russian threat is essential to justify it”, and added that this “fled” that is starring the EU “will not solve any structural problem, which are those that suppose a true threat.”
Global data
Since the SIPRI collects and publishes the data globally, it had never increased both military spending (20%) and in the last three years. A “historical” increase.
In connection with Near Eastthe offensive in Gaza He has only confirmed the status that Israel occupies in the military field. It is the country with the largest military spending in its relationship with its GDP (88%), and there is no country that has increased more military budget since October 7, 2023 (65%).
In contrast to the data obtained in Europe and the Middle East, the Center Delàs wanted to make a special mention to South America“where the expense not only does not increase, but it goes down.” His condition of Nuclear Armament Free Zone and a lack of interstate conflicts, make the region a reference territory in the decrease in defense expenditure. Even so, countries like Mexico y Colombia They cannot ignore their internal conflicts (especially against drug trafficking) and their expense is due to such concern.
