For the first time in 12 years: Russia took an unexpected place in the arms race

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The leader in defense spending remained the United States, which spent $ 649 billion. This is 4,6% more than in the 2017 year. China is second on the list ($ 250 billion), Saudi Arabia is on the third place ($ 67,6 billion).

Experts explain the rise in US military spending in 2018 President Donald Trump policy for the purchase of weapons. Statistics show that since 2009, Washington has been spending less on defense on 17%.

China is steadily increasing its military spending - they have grown almost tenfold since 1994, according to (SIPRI). Another growth leader is Turkey, whose defense expenditure has increased by 2009% since 65.

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SIPRI also noted a growth trend in defense spending in some countries of Central and Eastern Europe. So, Ukraine in 2018 year spent $ 4,8 billion, which is 21% more than 2017 of the year; Poland - $ 11,6 billion (8,9% growth). Peter Wesemann, senior researcher at the SIPRI Arms and Military Expenditures Program, believes that this is due to the perception of the threat from Russia.

Global military spending in 2018 amounted to $ 1822 billion. They grew by 2,6% compared to 2017 year.

ForumDaily wrote earlier:

• Russia threatened non-nuclear countries with a missile strike for cooperation with the United States, and the Russian leader himselfrigosil place supersonic nuclear weapons on ships and submarines near the US.