11 charts for understanding the escalating global arms race

From El Pais International

The world is seeing a strong rise in military spending. According to data collected by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), global investment in this sector reached approximately $2.7 trillion (€2.3 trillion) in 2024 — an amount roughly halfway between the GDP of Italy and that of France. The increase compared to the previous year was 9%, the highest since the end of the Cold War.

All signs point to this trend, driven by intense geopolitical tension, intensifying in the coming years. A key role in this is played by the arms industry, which is becoming strategically — and even existentially — more important than in recent decades, while simultaneously facing demands for restructuring and prospects of significant profits. The competition is fierce.