scorecardresearch
Add as a preferred source on Google
Friday, January 9, 2026
TopicDefence budget

Topic: Defence budget

‘Lowest ever since 1962’: Congress MP Deepender Hooda flags dip in defence budget under Modi govt

Urging an immediate hike in defence allocation, Rohtak MP bats for the armed forces to be equipped with modern weapons and fighter aircraft.

Pakistan raises defence spending by 20% but slashes overall federal budget 

Islamabad allocates PKR 2.55 trillion (approx Rs 76,500 crore) to defence in FY26 amid IMF pressures, declining growth and rising debt.

Trump factor looms large as Canada pledges 2% of GDP on defence spending by end of fiscal year

With only one seaworthy submarine and less than half its maritime and land vehicles operational, Canada has made this major announcement ahead of the G7 and NATO summits.

Germany needs 60,000 more troops to meet new NATO targets, says defence minister

Defence minister Boris Pistorius’s announcement comes in the wake of Trump’s demand for NATO to increase defence investment from 2% to 5% of the GDP.

Amid Trump’s 5% goal, NATO ministers to discuss defence funding before key summit

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte proposed that alliance members boost defence spending to 3.5% of GDP & commit further 1.5% to broader security-related spending.

China continues military modernisation push with 7.2% defence budget hike for third straight year

Under Xi Jinping’s leadership, the defence budget has more than doubled from 720 billion yuan in 2013 as China has been investing heavily in advanced military capabilities.

Europe’s social welfare economies must now focus on defence. How, is the question

As global diplomacy heads in an uncertain direction, many European leaders see a need to swiftly ramp up defence spending.

India’s long-term growth is in securing its seas. When will the Navy budget reflect this?

As Sardar KM Panikkar explained, India’s land-based invaders ultimately became natives. Its colonisers came by the sea—and they were successful because Indian rulers ignored the waters.

House panel flags low Army budget for modernisation, urges hike for sufficient deterrence capacity

Standing committee has urged focus on procurement of state-of-the-art equipment & keeping Army expenditure ‘in proportion to increase in defence spending of our neighbours’.

Xi wanted to teach India about imbalance of power. We should take a budgetary lesson from it

While we talk much about our military, we don’t put our national wallet where our mouth is. Nobody is saying we should double our defence spending, but current declining trend must be reversed.

On Camera

Venezuelan economy did not collapse overnight. 4 decades of stagnation is the cause

In 1980, South American countries exhibited similar income levels, with Venezuela ranking among the more affluent economies. By 2023, this landscape had significantly altered.

500% tariffs ahead for India? Trump’s lined up a big bad Bill for countries buying Russian oil

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham says bill will be 'well-timed, as Ukraine is making concessions for peace and Putin is all talk, continuing to kill the innocent'.

2025: Pakistan’s deadliest year in over a decade

Islamabad-based think-tank PICSS's new report says Pakistan saw 'pronounced escalation' in violence last year, with 3,413 conflict-related deaths compared to 1,950 in previous year.

A year-end Mea Culpa in National Interest—The Army-Islam combo doesn’t kill democracy

Many of you might think I got something so wrong in National Interest pieces written this year. I might disagree! But some deserve a Mea Culpa. I’d deal with the most recent this week.