Central Asian states collectively allocated $1.8 bn towards defence in 2023, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reports. This figure marks a decrease of 5.3% compared to the previous year's expenditure. The data excludes Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan due to insufficient information.
SIPRI's analysis indicates a consistent trend of diminishing defence budgets across Central Asian nations, with a cumulative reduction of 16% over nine years. In contrast, global defence spending surged to a record $2.3 trillion during the same period.
The United States emerges as the leading contributor to defence expenditure, allocating $916 bn, followed by China with $296 bn and Russia with $109 bn. These figures underscore the substantial military capabilities of major global players.
The latest iteration of the PowerIndex, a comprehensive evaluation of the world's armed forces in 2024, reveals notable shifts in rankings among Central Asian countries. Uzbekistan witnessed a decline in its position, slipping from 62nd to 65th globally. This places Uzbekistan as the second-highest-ranked Central Asian nation, with Kazakhstan leading at the 58th position.
Kazakhstan emerges as the dominant military force in the region, securing the 58th position in the global ranking. Turkmenistan follows closely at 83rd, with Kyrgyzstan at 100th and Tajikistan at 107th.
Uzbekistan's defence budget is reported at $796.8 mn, with a military personnel strength of 68,000, including 48,000 actively serving. These figures provide insight into Uzbekistan's military readiness and underscore its position within the regional landscape.
Follow Daryo's official Instagram and Twitter pages to keep current on world news.
Comments (0)