2011 world military spending levels out
AFP - Global military spending levelled last year at 1.740 trillion dollars due to the economic crisis, almost unchanged in real terms since 2010, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute said Tuesday.
"The small rise of just 0.3 percent in 2011 (compared to 2010) marks the end of a run of continuous increases in military spending between 1998 and 2010, including an annual average increase of 4.5 percent between 2001 and 2009," according to figures released by the independent think tank.
"Six of the world's top military spenders -- Brazil, France, Germany, India, the United Kingdom and the United States -- made cuts in their military budgets in 2011, in most cases as part of attempts to reduce budget deficits.
"Meanwhile other states, notably China and Russia, increased their military spending markedly," the report said.
http://www.france24.com/en/20120417-2011-world-military-spending-levels-out
