Experts concerned over military expenditures increase in South Caucasus

PanARMENIAN.Net - Global military expenditure totaled $1,3 trillion last year, fixing a 10% increase against last year's data, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).



The major spenders are the United States with $578 billion and Russia with $45,6 billion.



However, experts are concerned over the growth of military expenditures in Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.



Spending 5 per cent of its budget for military purposes, Tbilisi exceeded expense items 28 times.



Azerbaijan has increased military expenditures half as much.



Yerevan doesn't spend much. Its military expenditures amount to $272 million. But the country receives extra assistance from Russia and Iran, whose funds can exceed local defense expenses, analitika.az reports.



The database on military expenditure covers 168 countries and contains consistent time series for the period since 1988. SIPRI military expenditure data are based on open sources only, including a SIPRI questionnaire, which is sent out annually to all countries included in the database.