Russia has become the top third state, in terms of military expenses in 2011. The Stockholm International Institute for Studies of Global Problems said that Russia spent $72 billion on military forces in 2011, RIA Novosti reports.
Russia increased its military budget by 9.3% in 2011, making $71.9 billion, exceeding expenses of Britain ($62.7 billion) and France ($62.5 billion). The US ($711 billion) and China ($143 billion) remain the top 2 states in the list.
Analysts say that Russia may increase the military budget by 53% in 2014, but the current level of military industry would probably fail to achieve such benchmarks.
Concerning increase of Chinese military expenses, experts point out the border disputes with India, Senkaku Islands dispute with Japan and the maritime frontiers in the South China Sea.
The US remains the world leader of military expenditures. It scrapped some rearmament programs, started withdrawal from Iraq and reduction of forces in Afghanistan. The Pentagon saved billions of dollars. The UK, Germany and France reduced military expenses by 0.6%, 1.4% and 4% respectively in 2008. Greece, Spain and Italy had even greater reductions.
