A military budget of an entity, most often a nation or a state is the budget and financial resources dedicated to raising and maintaining armed forces for that entity. Military budgets reflect how much an entity perceives the likelihood of threats against it, or the amount of aggression it wishes to employ. One of the most influential doctrines in history is that all humans are divided into groups called nations. ... A state is an organized political community, occupying a territory, and possessing internal and external sovereignty, which successfully claims the monopoly on the use of force. ... Budget generally refers to a list of all planned expenses and revenues. ... Finance addresses the ways in which individuals, business entities and other organizations allocate and use monetary resources over time. ... The armed forces of a state are its government sponsored defense and fighting forces and organizations. ...

Military budgets (2003)

The yearly report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute shows that the purchase of military products by NATO member nations during the year 2003 rose 11% relative to 2002 (6.5 % in volume). In some countries, this budget has been increased to the level maintained during the Cold War. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) was founded in 1966 to commemorate 150 years of unbroken peace in Sweden. ... NATO 2002 Summit in Prague The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, the Atlantic Alliance or the Western Alliance, is an international organisation for collective security established in 1949, in support of the North Atlantic Treaty signed in Washington, DC, on 4 April 1949. ...

The United States leads in this increase. First of all, their purchases represent 47% of the US $956 billion world military expenditure in 2003. Moreover, without the decision to lead a campaign in Iraq and the suplementary expense of US $83 billion, the main expense would have been increased by only 3.5%. In general, this spending increase was copied by other countries. The military budgets of France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Italy representent about 13% (US $120 billion) of world military spending. France and the United Kingdom have increased their equipment expenses, not only to act in United States military actions with the same technological level of their big ally, but equally to be able to act independently in smaller military campaigns such as Côte d'Ivoire. For other uses, see United States (disambiguation) and US (disambiguation). ... Combatants Coalition Forces (United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Poland) Iraq Commanders Tommy Franks Saddam Hussein Strength 263,000 375,000 The 2003 Invasion of Iraq began on March 20 and consisted mainly of United States and United Kingdom forces. ... The armed forces of the United States of America consist of the United States Army United States Navy United States Air Force United States Marine Corps United States Coast Guard Note: The United States Coast Guard has both military and law enforcement functions. ...

Among non-Nato nations, Japan spent US $46.9 billion on military resources in 2003, The People's Republic of China, US$ 32.8 billion, and Russia, US $13 billion, (5%, 4%, and 1% of the world total, respectively).

Further information: Military budget of the United States, and Military budget of the People's Republic of China, and Defense budget of Japan, and [[]], and [[]], and [[]], and [[]], and [[]], and [[]]

Portions of this article or section may be outdated. ...

World's largest military budgets

Budgets 2002 for NATO countries

Budgets 2002 for NATO countries in billions of US dollars For the Cusco album, see 2002 (album). ... NATO 2002 Summit in Prague The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, the Atlantic Alliance or the Western Alliance, is an international organisation for collective security established in 1949, in support of the North Atlantic Treaty signed in Washington, DC, on 4 April 1949. ...

• Source : Atlas stratégique 2004

It has been designated the: International Year of Rice (by the United Nations) International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO) 2004 World Health Day topic was Road Safety (by World Health Organization) Year of the Monkey (by the Chinese calendar) See the world in...

Controversy

Military spending is often criticized for a number of reasons.

Strict pacifists argue against the use of force, and so may oppose any military spending, even for defense. Pacifist may mean: an advocate of pacifism. ...

Other critics complain about the large amounts of money spent on military purposes, while other more basic needs (clean drinking water, sanitation, and the prevention of malnutrition and easily preventable diseases) are unmet. For example, it is claimed that 1.2% of the world's total annual military expenditures, spent on water and sanitation materials, training and programs each year for 10 years, would ensure adequate water for all people^[1]. Drinking water Drinking water is water that is intended to be drunk by humans. ... Sanitation vehicle in New York City. ... Malnutrition is a general term for the medical condition in a person caused by an unbalanced diet—either too little or too much food, or a diet missing one or more important nutrients. ...

See also

• Permanent arms economy
• Military Keynesianism
• Mutual assured destruction
• Pacifism