Asia-Pacific Defence Budgets Hit 16-Year Growth Peak Amid Concerns Over US Reliability

Asia-Pacific Defence Budgets Hit 16-Year Growth Peak Amid Concerns Over US Reliability

Military expenditures across the Asia-Pacific region surged to US$681 billion in 2025, marking the most rapid expansion in over a decade and a half. The spike reflects deepening apprehension among Washington's regional allies regarding the stability and dependability of American security guarantees.

According to data released Monday by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), a leading independent research organization, global defence spending climbed to US$2.89 trillion in 2025—a 2.9 per cent increase compared to the previous year. This represents the 11th consecutive year of growth in worldwide military expenditures.

The rise underscores an evolving geopolitical landscape, with the global military burden now consuming 2.5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP)—the highest proportion since 2009.

The Big Three Dominate Global Spending

The United States, mainland China, and Russia collectively accounted for just over half of all global military spending, with their combined expenditures totalling US$1.48 trillion.

US Spending Decline Moderates Global Growth

While Asia-Pacific nations accelerated their military investments, global growth in 2025 decelerated compared to the previous year's expansion rate of 9.7 per cent. This moderation stemmed primarily from a reduction in American defence outlays.

Washington's military budget fell to US$954 billion, representing a 7.5 per cent decline from 2024. SIPRI attributed this contraction to the absence of new military assistance packages for Ukraine approved by Congress during the period.