Global military spending is accelerating, with total worldwide military expenditures for 2024 estimated at $2.72 trillion. This marks a 9.4% increase in real terms over 2023 levels and the sharpest year-over-year (YOY) rise in decades. While spending in the major military powers of the United States, Russia, China, Germany, and India still accounts for the majority of total defense spending, budgets in other parts of the world are also increasing, particularly given instability in the Middle East and concern in Europe about the escalation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Defense hawk investors who believe this trend is likely to continue may be inclined to invest in aerospace and defense firms that are most likely to benefit from increased military spending. Individual investments in this area are accessible for U.S. investors but less so for international defense companies. Hawkish investors seeking broader international exposure to the defense space might consider a dedicated and expansive exchange-traded fund (ETF) targeting this industry.
