West Asia Military Spending Sees Marginal Increase Amidst Tensions, SIPRI Report Reveals

Kathmandu. Despite ongoing tensions and conflicts in West Asia, military spending in 2025 has not significantly increased, a new report indicates.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), regional military expenditure reached approximately $218 billion, a mere 0.1 percent increase compared to the previous year.

Israel's military spending decreased by 4.9 percent to $48.3 billion. This reduction is believed to be linked to the decreased intensity of the Gaza conflict following a ceasefire in January 2025. However, Israel's spending remains 97 percent higher than in 2022.

On the other hand, Iran's military spending has declined for the second consecutive year. In 2025, its expenditure fell by 5.6 percent to $7.4 billion. SIPRI attributes this decline to high inflation, with the annual inflation rate reaching approximately 42 percent.

Zubayda Karim, a researcher involved in the report, suggested that Iran's actual military spending might be higher than official figures. According to her, Iran may be funding military programs, such as missile and drone production, using oil revenues outside its budget.