What country has the world's highest military spending?

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Critical Analysis

Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, any links below, your big brain, and your knowledge of American government and politics:

1. According to the data from the chart above, how much did the U.S. spend on its military in 2023?

2. According to the data from the chart above, how much did Canada spend on its military in 2023?

3. Of the countries listed in the chart above, the following are American allies: India, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, Germany, France, South Korea, Japan, Ukraine, and Israel. How many of the top 15 military spending nations from the chart above are not U.S. allies?

4. If you added up the spending of America’s allies as listed in the chart above, how much would their total spending be?

5. What is the big story this chart tells about U.S. military spending?

6. Explain how the current conflicts in Ukraine and Israel will impact U.S. military spending in the future.

7. Why do you think the U.S. spends so much on the military?

8. In 2022 the U.S. spent a lot of money on defense: $877 billion, which is more than any other country. But that spending is equal to only 3.74% of its GDP, which is only the 21st most in the world. Which do you think is a more accurate way to measure defense spending: as a total amount or as a percentage of a country’s money?

9. According to the U.S. Constitution the President of the United States (POTUS) is the commander in chief. At the same time, Congress has the power to declare war. Explain which of those powers is more important.

10. Before the collapse of the Soviet Union about 30 years ago, the U.S. and the Soviets were military rivals. Based on the visual above, which country do you think is the biggest rival to American military supremacy?

Write and Discuss

Take ten minutes to write about the question at the top of the page and then discuss with your classmates.

Act on your Learning

Share your opinion about U.S. military spending with the POTUS.

Get Creative

In 2022 the U.S. spent $877 billion on defense. What would life be like in the United States if we spent as much (little) on defense as Canada: $26.9 billion?

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