The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and pressure from Trump, helped drive a massive boost in global military spending last year, a Swedish think tank says.

Defense spending surged last year by the most since at least the end of the Cold War, according to data published Monday, with European countries rushing to bolster their security in the face of threats from Russia.

Worldwide military expenditure surged to $2.7 trillion in 2024, marking the sharpest annual increase since the Cold War, driven by escalating conflicts and geopolitical tensions, SIPRI reported Monday.