Military spending in Turkey increased by 24 percent in 2018 to $19 billion, the highest annual percentage increase among the world’s top 15 military spenders, according to new data announced on Monday by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
SIPRI, an international monitor for tracking military spending in governments, said the total military expenditure in the world reached $1.8 trillion in 2018.
The US and China are the biggest military spenders, while the 29 NATO member countries constitute 53 percent of the total military spending in the world with their $963 billion expenditure.
Military spending in African and Middle Eastern countries fell slightly in 2018.
