Why is the US Military Budget the Highest in the World? 

Sandwiched between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, the USA chose to remain neutral in the First World War. The US entered the war only after the publication of the Zimmerman Note and the attack on Lusitania, a British ship carrying about 124 Native Americans. Soon after, the US changed the dynamics of the war. When the Second World War happened, the USA adopted the policy of isolationism. The infamous Pearl Harbor attack forced the USA to actively participate in the war. 

The US involvement in these wars not only changed the internal dynamics of the war but also decided the dynamics of the world in decades to come. From fighting the guerrilla war in Afghanistan to the proxy wars in the Korean Peninsula and Vietnam, the US has shaken the world with its weaponry that is ahead of its time. The active or passive participation of the US in wars happening around the globe leaves the masses in sixes and sevens. 

How the US manages to act as a global policeman is one of the many questions that swirl in the minds of the numerical majority. The answer to this question lies in the US military budget, which is more than the entire economy of developed states like Switzerland. The US military spending is more than the combined military spending of 10 developing countries, including China, Russia, and Brazil. 

The Second Term of Trump as the Commander-in-Chief of the US Military

Donald Trump has made a comeback to the White House. The US Congress is again under the control of the Republicans. In his second term as commander-in-chief, Trump is expected to bring concrete alterations in US military spending. Trump has never been a supporter of US assistance to Kyiv; it is expected that he would cut the assistance to Ukraine. Although he has not announced any details about how his government will deal with the crisis, it is clear that he will diminish the assistance anytime soon. 

His primary objective is deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region. As far as his strategy towards the Middle East is concerned, he has always been an adamant supporter of Israel. His relentless support to Israel against Hamas and Hezbollah might tense the situation in the Middle East during his term. A few days back, Trump urged NATO members to increase their defense budget from 2 percent of GDP to about 5 percent. He stressed that the US protection of European countries would decrease if they failed to increase their military spending. 

The US Military Budget For the Fiscal Year 2023

According to the 2022 National Defense Strategy, the high military budget is used to counter the military presence of China in the Pacific Ocean, deter strategic attacks against the allies of the US, and acquire defense against cyberattacks from North Korea, Iran, and Russia. According to the data given by the Pentagon, the USA spends 44% of its money on the military. In 2023, approximately 853 billion USD was allocated to the military. The US military spends this amount in the following areas: 

Operations and Maintenance

In 2023, approximately $352 billion was reserved for operations and maintenance. This category includes transportation fuel, maintenance of weapons, cost of administration, and training expenses. Around $39 billion is spent on doctors and health services for active duty personnel.  This category also includes the expenditure on environmental cleaning of areas used by military personnel for testing weapons, the explosion of bombs, and the spillage of chemicals. A significant amount is saved by the military for emergencies. 

Military Personnel

The cost of military personnel was about $172 billion for the fiscal year 2023. It included their healthcare, retirement, benefits, and monthly payments. Out of this, about $28 million is dedicated to the recruitment of IT and AI experts. 

These experts are tasked with the use of AI to analyze drone footage, use military lasers at sea, assemble autonomous submarines, and refine their target capabilities at sea, in the air, and on land. To maintain superiority on the battlefield, $140 billion is reserved for research and development (R&D). 

Military Construction 

In 2023, the US government allotted $19 billion to the construction of military outposts, warehouses, and bases at home and abroad. For instance, it spent $85 million to construct jet fuel tanks in Japan. 

Procurement

The Pentagon spent $167 billion on procurement. The amount is justified as military equipment is exorbitant. For instance, the cost of the F-35 is $142 million. The US government bought 77 F-35s in 2023 and 88 in 2024. Likewise, the USA purchased 600 cruise missiles in 2022. A single missile was purchased in exchange for $1.6 million. The Black Hawk helicopters used by the US Army cost about $1.2 billion. 

Reasoning Behind the High Military Budget

They say that nothing comes for free in this world. The highest US military budget is the price taxpayers pay every year to be the hegemon. 

The Price Paid For Being the Universal Policeman

Unlike the military of other countries, the prime responsibility of the US military is not to safeguard the borders of its country. Being a hegemon, it is “bestowed with the responsibility” to act as a universal force to maintain peace and stability in the world. After the end of the Cold War and the balkanization of the USSR into different countries, the US emerged as a global power. As a global power, the rest of the countries, especially the Third World countries, expect it to be there during undesirable circumstances.

Due to its position, the US military often finds itself actively participating in operations happening in some distant part of the world. For example, the US military was called to oppose the massacre in Libya and Kosovo. Additionally, the hegemon is expected to ensure uninterrupted maritime trade from choke points like the Strait of Hormuz and the Strait of Malacca. 

The Cost Needed to Maintain Its Foreign Military Bases  

The US has around 800 military bases in foreign countries. The sole purpose of these bases is to maintain its influence globally and provide immediate aid when the war breaks out. Besides that, these military bases also help in countering the escalating influence of China and Russia in smaller countries. The mushroom growth of the economy of China and its involvement in regional organizations like BRICS+ send waves of worries to the current hegemon.

Unlike the USSR, the Chinese government does not participate in wars happening around the globe. Instead, it provides economic aid to smaller countries in the form of loans. By doing so, China aims to become the global hegemon. The USA is not oblivious to the intention of China. In case of a war, these military bases will help the US attack China from the nearest points. In a nutshell, these military bases help the USA maintain its hegemony. 

The Share of Private Corporations and the Enigma of Election Cycles

According to the report issued by the International Institute of Strategic Studies, 54% of the military budget is given to private corporations. The top 5 corporations include Northrop Grumman, Boeing, General Dynamics, Raytheon, and Lockheed Martin. These private corporations make military equipment for the USA.

To get a contract, these corporations invest ample dollars during elections. Republicans and Democrats evenly distribute these dollars between them and use these dollars to run election campaigns in their districts. This way, both the government and corporations reap the fruits. Also, the lawmakers in the Pentagon who approve the military budget every year have their share in defense contracting money. The more money taxpayers pay for military spending, the richer the lawmakers become. 

Active Participation in NATO

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was established in 1949 to combat the spread of communism during the Cold War. Article 6 of the Charter of NATO stresses that an attack on one NATO member would be considered an attack on all members. In return, all members would attack the other state on behalf of its ally. This article single-handedly instructs the US government not to limit its military spending. 

Agreements and Alliances  

Being a superpower, the USA has signed multiple agreements with both developed and developing countries. These agreements and alliances are one of the primary reasons why the US cannot cut down on the cost of the military. Through these treaties, the US agrees to spend on the security of about 51 countries around the globe. 

• Through NATO, the USA safeguards about 28 nations in Europe. This group also includes its northern neighbor, Canada. 
• Through the Rio Treaty, the USA agrees to protect 18 countries in Central and South America. 
• The ANZUS Treaty promises security to New Zealand and Australia. 
• Bilateral treaties were signed with the Philippines, Japan, and South Korea. 

Besides these agreements, the US shares close partnerships with a bunch of other countries. Whenever calamity strikes any of these countries, the US is the first state to offer a helping hand. These countries include Israel, Afghanistan, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. 

Conclusion 

The US has the highest military budget because its military is involved in different parts of the globe. Being a hegemon, the USA considers global peace and security (aka policing) its moral responsibility. It is believed that its military budget will only increase in the forthcoming years.

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