15 Countries With Highest Defense Spending and Largest Military Budgets

11. Italy

Military Spending: $27.9 Billion

We are continuing our list of countries with highest defense spending and largest military budgets with Italy that is one of the top exporters of weapons in the world. The country’s military spending currently represents just 1.5% of its GDP, but between 2007 and 2016, the country’s spending was cut by 16%. As a member of NATO, Italy has to increase its military spending. The block aspires (not requires) to have all member countries spend at least 2% of their GDP on their military. However, even though its military spending is one of the lowest in NATO, Italy plays a major role in European security, with its coast guard and navy constantly engaged in saving migrants in the Mediterranean.

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