Global military spending rose to $2.72 trillion in 2024, up 9.4% from the previous year and marking the fastest annual increase since the end of the Cold War, according to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The war in Ukraine and broader geopolitical tensions drove growth across all regions, with Europe and the Middle East seeing particularly steep increases.⁠
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Russia spent an estimated $149 billion on its military in 2024, a 38% jump from 2023, while Ukraine spent $64.7 billion—34% of its GDP and the highest military burden globally. SIPRI noted, “Ukraine currently allocates all of its tax revenues to its military,” raising concerns about long-term sustainability.⁠
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The United States accounted for 37% of total global military spending, reaching $997 billion in 2024. That figure represented 66% of all NATO defense expenditures. SIPRI reported that over 100 countries increased military budgets in 2024, often cutting other spending areas in the process.⁠
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A global survey conducted by Nira Data for the Alliance of Democracies Foundation found that international perceptions of the United States have dropped below those of China for the first time in the poll’s history. The net perception rating of the U.S. declined to -5% from +22% last year, with only 45% of countries holding a positive view. In contrast, China’s rating rose to +14% from +5%.⁠
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Alliance founder Anders Fogh Rasmussen attributed the shift to President Donald Trump’s foreign policy. “President Trump has triggered a trade war, scolded Ukraine’s president in the Oval Office, left allies feeling vulnerable and enemies emboldened,” he said. “It’s no surprise that opinions have slipped even among people like me who spent their lives admiring the United States and what it stood for.”⁠
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The survey included responses from over 111,000 people across 100 countries. Trump was viewed negatively in 82 countries, compared to 61 for Russian President Vladimir Putin and 44 for Chinese President Xi Jinping. ⁠
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A new report from the Pew Research Center shows that Islam experienced the largest growth of any religious group between 2010 and 2020, with an increase of 347 million people. Researchers attribute this primarily to birth rates rather than religious conversion. The study found that Muslims remain concentrated in high-growth regions such as sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East-North Africa, while the largest increase occurred in the Asia-Pacific region.⁠
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Christianity added 122 million people over the same period but declined as a share of the global population. Pew reports that many people who were raised Christian no longer identify with any religion, especially in Europe, North America, and Oceania. The religiously unaffiliated now make up 24.2% of the global population and represent the third largest group after Christians and Muslims.⁠
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Other findings include a 19 million decline in the global Buddhist population, largely due to disaffiliation in East Asia. Hindu populations grew through migration, particularly in the Middle East-North Africa and North America. The world’s Jewish population increased by about one million to 15 million people, with nearly half residing in Israel. Pew researchers used over 2,700 data sources across 201 countries to produce the study.⁠
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President Donald Trump’s newly released budget plan calls for a $163 billion cut to nondefense spending while increasing the defense budget to $1.01 trillion. ⁠
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The Department of Homeland Security would receive $175 billion to fund expanded border security. The proposal targets “woke” and “radical left” programs and seeks to eliminate funding for climate initiatives, DEI efforts, and agencies such as the National Endowment for the Arts and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.⁠
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The Department of Education would lose $12 billion, with funding shifted toward charter schools. Health and Human Services would see a $33.3 billion cut, eliminating grants for mental health, substance abuse, and chronic illness prevention. ⁠
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The EPA faces a $5 billion reduction, with climate programs slashed and limited investment in clean water. Several international aid programs, including disaster relief and peacekeeping, would be eliminated or severely cut.⁠
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Despite widespread cuts, the Department of Defense receives a $113.3 billion boost, with pledges to dismantle DEI and climate programs. The VA would gain $5.4 billion for healthcare and records upgrades, while NASA’s budget would drop by $6 billion, with funding redirected to lunar and Mars exploration. ⁠
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The budget also includes increases for rural development, food inspection, and FAA modernization, while scaling back social programs, housing support, and job training initiatives.⁠
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