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Spending on defence

Rahul Tandon looks at why some countries are spending more on defence following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and asks whether it can be justified when budgets are under pressure.

Rahul Tandon looks at changing attitudes to defence spending following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. There have been new funding commitments from countries like Germany, while Sweden and Finland now want to join NATO, but what's the true cost?
We speak to Estonia's defence minister Kalle Laanet about his country's growing military budget, and German member of the European Parliament Viola Von Cramon Taubadel on her country's decision to spend more.
Dr Diego Lopes Da Silva, a researcher with the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, says global spending reached a record level of $2 trillion in 2021, before the invasion of Ukraine.
Steven Zaloga, a military analyst at the Teal Group, explains the role of cutting edge drone technology, and Allison Pytlak from the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom discusses the human cost of conflict.
Presenter: Rahul Tandon
Producer: James Graham
Photo: Ammunition in a shopping trolley (Credit: Getty Images)

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18 minutes

Last on

Thu 19 May 2022 07:32GMT

Broadcast

  • Thu 19 May 2022 07:32GMT

Podcast