Global military spending rose for the 11th year in a row in 2025. Governments spent a total of $2.887 trillion (€2.47 trillion) on ships, aircraft, missiles and other weapons, according to new data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). That's the highest level of military spending  ever recorded. "This really speaks to countries' reactions to ongoing wars, tensions and geopolitical uncertainty," said Xiao Liang, a researcher in SIPRI's Military Expenditure and Arms Production Program. Fighting continued in Ukraine  and Gaza in 2025, while conflicts such as the war in Sudan also added to global instability. "With all these crises still ongoing, and many countries' long‑term spending plans already locked in, this trend will probably continue through 2026 and beyond." Much of the global rise in military spending in 2025 was driven by Europe , where spending rose by 14% to $864 billion.…