Global Military Spending Still Rising

The U.S.-made X-45 pilotless attack aircraft (epa)

June 12, 2006 -- The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute says global military spending increased by 3.4 percent to $1.12 trillion last year.

The figure corresponds to 2.5 percent of the global gross domestic product.

The United States accounted for nearly half of all military spending. The institute says U.S. spending in Iraq and Afghanistan is expected to help push global military expenditures even higher in 2006.

(Reuters, AP)