Nournews: The U.S. defense budget for 2026 has been approved at a record $1.1 trillion — a significant increase with strategic implications that affect not only the future of global order but also cast serious doubt on Trump’s repeated promises to end the “endless wars.”
Escalating strategic rivalries and the military spending surge
Over the past two decades, the U.S. has spent an average of around $700 billion annually on defense. However, in recent years, amid intensifying strategic competition with China, rising proxy conflicts, and a focus on technological warfare such as cyber and space operations, the defense budget has grown at an unprecedented pace. The 2026 budget includes over $160 billion for research and development, $35 billion for emerging technologies including military AI, and $55 billion for the modernization of the nuclear arsenal.
The contradiction between Trump’s anti-war promises and military spending reality
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed in campaign speeches that he would end interventionist policies, reduce the U.S. military footprint in the Middle East, and prioritize “America First.” Yet, the relentless rise in defense spending during his first presidency — from about $600 billion in 2016 to over $740 billion in 2020 — and the continued increase during his second term, which began in January 2024, clearly contradict his anti-war stance. With the defense budget now exceeding the one trillion-dollar mark, Trump has effectively stayed the course of military expansionism.
America’s overwhelming military superiority: Economic pressure and global consequences
Remarkably, the United States alone accounts for more than 39% of total global military spending — more than three times that of China ($290 billion in 2024) and about ten times that of Russia ($109 billion in 2024). Military spending now represents about 3.5% of the U.S. GDP, placing considerable strain on public finances, especially amid global economic fragility and domestic inflation.
The arms build-up: From nuclear submarines to allied concerns
Plans to construct 12 Columbia-class nuclear submarines, enhance space-based weaponry, and expand military bases across the Pacific signal that Washington's strategic focus is not on reducing conflict, but on sustaining dominance over the global security architecture. Independent nations — and even some European allies — have expressed concern over this growing militarization. The European Union has repeatedly called for a redefinition of global security that does not rely unilaterally on U.S. military power, while China has described the budget hike as a clear example of aggressive deterrence.
There is little doubt that a trillion-dollar defense budget not only violates the spirit of peace-oriented rhetoric but also rings alarm bells for long-term instability in the international system. More than ever, there is a pressing need for transparency in U.S. grand strategy and for a global stand against unchecked militarization.
NOURNEWS