Ukraine (Transatlantic Today) – The Australia-based Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) has released a recent report that sent ripples across Europe, revealing a stark increase in military spending among more than three-fourths of European countries in 2023. This surge comes amid escalating tensions surrounding Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine, stirring concerns about the potential for further aggression.
Global Peace Index
The 18th edition of the Global Peace Index (GPI), produced by the Australia-based Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), warned on Tuesday the world was at a crossroads, with the global number of conflicts reaching 56, the most since World War II.Ninety-seven countries experienced a decline in peacefulness in 2024, marking the most significant deterioration since the inception of the report in 2008. Moreover, conflicts are becoming increasingly international, involving 92 countries beyond their borders, the highest figure recorded by the GPI.
Europe’s Peaceful Facade Crumbles Amidst Rising Tensions
While Europe boasts seven of the top 10 most peaceful nations globally, the region is not immune to the growing unrest. Alarmingly, 23 out of 36 European countries have seen a decline in peace. Sweden, recently joining NATO amidst apprehensions of a potential clash with Russia, witnessed the most substantial drop in peacefulness, plummeting 22 places to its lowest rank since 2008.
Military Preparedness in Europe
According to Aljaeera, the war between Russia and Ukraine has forced European countries to reevaluate their military preparedness and capabilities. Over the last year, military readiness has decreased in thirty of the forty-nine European nations. These occurrences highlight how urgent it is for world leaders to give conflict resolution funding top priority, according to IEP founder and executive chairman Steve Killelea.
Rising Militarization Fuels ‘Forever Wars’
The report also highlights the alarming trend of increasing militarization, with 91 countries experiencing a rise in military activity, reversing a previous 15-year trend. Increasing complexity and the growing internationalisation of conflicts reduced the likelihood of achieving lasting solutions, leading to “forever conflicts”, such as those raging in Ukraine and Gaza.
Human and Economic Toll of Conflict
The human and economic cost of war also reached record-high levels.. In the first four months of 2024 alone, global conflicts claimed the lives of 47,000 individuals, with projections indicating a trajectory towards the highest death toll since the Rwandan genocide in 1994. Economic losses from conflict have also soared, with the global economy bearing a staggering $19.1 trillion burden in 2023, exacerbating existing vulnerabilities.
Calls for Urgent Action
Steve Killelea stressed the imperative for swift action, underscoring the imperative for world leaders to prioritize conflict resolution efforts. The report’s findings affirm the critical need for concerted global action to address the escalating threats to peace and stability.
