Global military spending rose in 2015 to nearly €1.5trn, the first increase in several years, driven by conflicts including the battle against Islamic State (IS), the Saudi-led war in Yemen, and fears about Iran.

Syria imported nearly six times more weapons from 2007-2011 than in the previous five-year period, with Russia accounting for 72% of the arms supplies to President Bashar Assad’s regime, an international research institute said today.

WORLDWIDE military spending surged to a record $1.5 trillion last year, defying an economic downturn caused by the global financial crisis, a leading think tank said yesterday.

FOR the first time since the Cold War, global military spending reached almost €1 trillion in 2004, nearly half of it by the US, a prominent European think-tank said yesterday.

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Harney has welcomed the completion of an independent review of Ireland’s export licensing system.