11 April 2011: World military spending reached $1.6 trillion in 2010, biggest increase in South America, fall in Europe according to new SIPRI data — www.sipri.org

http://www.sipri.org/media/pressreleases/milex

'The USA has increased its military spending by 81 per cent since 2001, and now accounts for 43 per cent of the global total, six times its nearest rival China. At 4.8 per cent of GDP, US military spending in 2010 represents the largest economic burden outside the Middle East', states Dr Sam Perlo-Freeman, Head of the SIPRI Military Expenditure Project.

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