What will be effect of Rising Military Spending, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• NATO plans to increase defence spending target from 2% to 5% of GDP by 2035.
• Global military expenditure hit $2.7 trillion in 2024, a 9.4% year-on-year rise — the highest since 1988.
• Top five spenders: U.S. ($997B), China ($314B), Russia ($149B), Germany ($88.5B), India ($86.1B).
• UN’s total annual budget is only $44 billion; faces severe shortfalls with reduced funding.
• India spends 2.3% of GDP on defence, but only 1.84% on public health.
• Higher military budgets risk undermining SDG goals, especially poverty eradication, health, and climate action.

Detailed Insights:

• Post-Cold War, military spending declined globally, but has sharply reversed due to Russia-Ukraine, Israel-Gaza, and India-Pakistan tensions.
• Military-industrial complex benefits economically but leads to crowding-out of social sector investments.
• UN humanitarian and peacekeeping efforts are critically underfunded due to withdrawal of U.S. support under Donald Trump, including the shutdown of USAID.
• A Lancet study indicates withdrawal of aid may result in 14 million excess deaths by 2030, especially in low-income countries.
• Escalating military budgets threaten climate goals — a 3.5% NATO GDP target could lead to 200 million tonnes of additional GHG emissions annually.

Way forward: 

• Balance security needs with sustained investment in health, welfare, and climate action to avoid undermining SDG and human development goals.
• Promote transparency and parliamentary oversight of defence budgets to prevent unchecked expansion and ensure accountability.
• Encourage international dialogue for arms control and cooperative security to reduce the need for ever-rising military expenditure.
• Prioritize social sector funding in national budgets, especially in developing countries like India, to address welfare and public health gaps

Key Concepts Involved:

• Military-Industrial Complex: The relationship between governments, armed forces, and industries supplying defence equipment, influencing public policy.
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): 17 global goals set by the UN to achieve a better and more sustainable future by 2030.
• Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions: Emissions contributing to global warming; military activity significantly adds to GHG output.
• USAID: U.S. Agency for International Development, a key global development body, now defunded.

Mains Mock Question:

 Critically analyse the impact of rising global military expenditure on sustainable development and public welfare. In this context, assess India's defence versus social sector spending priorities. (250 words)