Global Defense Spending and Alliances Amid Rising Tensions

The return of great power competition across the globe is forcing countries to adapt, spurring major changes in alignment and defense spending, particularly in Europe, the Indo-Pacific, and the Middle East. Rising tensions from Russia and China have led to increased defense spending worldwide, with a focus on meeting rising threats. NATO and the European Union are calling for increased collaboration on security challenges and defense spending. The U.S. and China are competing in the Indo-Pacific, with Japan emerging as a key ally for the U.S. against the threats from China and North Korea. In the Middle East, the growing threat from Iran is raising concerns of a major regional war.