Ecuador, Chile highest military expenditures in region relative to GDP

elcomercio.com.ec reported that Ecuador and Chile are the countries with the highest percentages of defense spending in the region relative to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This conclusion the report entitled ‘Military Balance in South America 2013’, published by the New Majority organization Argentina in mid-November this year reached. In Ecuador, these data are corroborated by a calculation with figures from the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank. According to the document of the organization, Chile lowered spending 2.8% of GDP in 2008 to 2.2% in 2012. Ecuador, however, saw an increase in these areas from 2% in 2008 to 2 February 2012. This increase is sustained just after the attack on a camp of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia who settled in the country March 1, 2008 and killed 24 people. Following the incident, the president, Rafael Correa, provided that the armed (Armed Forces) forces were equipped with weapons and other equipment were repowered. For example, the acquisition of requested two radars, sophisticated weapons, helicopters , aircraft, military intelligence building, modernization of ships, etc.. Last year even planned to USD 158.8 million will be allocated to the operational support of the Armed Forces. This is part of the new roles that were assigned to the military through the Comprehensive Public Safety Plan, which states that soldiers cooperate in internal security tasks. In addition, they join to fight new threats such as drug trafficking and organized crime. Military investment in other African countries, according to the ‘Balance of South America 2013’, was reduced. “The regional defense spending has increased from 1.70% of GDP in 2008 to 1.47 in 2012.” The countries with the highest rates are Ecuador, Chile and Colombia , while nations with lower percentages are Surinam, Guyana and Argentina. The reduction in spending on these branches is also presented globally, according to the 2013 report ‘Arme, disarmament and security’, Institute for International Peace Studies Stockholm (SIPRI, in English), Sweden. The agency estimates that the global military purchases in 2012 were USD 1 756 billion, representing 2.5% of gross domestic product in the world. “The total is about 0.4% lower in real terms than the 2011, the first decline since 1998,” the report said. In the case of the nations of South and Central Asia, North America, Oceania and Western and Central Europe, there was a reduction, notes the document SIPRI. “In sub-Saharan Africa, East Asia and Latin America there was a significant slowdown in economic growth,” the report added. As for what the U.S. pay for SIPRI military-precise-there was a reduction of 5.6% in 2012 subjects. Added to this is that in 2011 there was a decline of 1%. Despite the reduction, the USD 685 300 million spent last year were 69% higher than what was paid in 2001 after the start of the war against terrorism in Afghanistan. For Mauricio Gándara, former Minister of Government and university professor, another important point is the number of soldiers. In his view, in Ecuador there is an excess of uniformed and seven years, that amount remains at around 40 000. For the Military Balance 2013 in South America, the evolution in the number of effective military forces in South America has not had substantial changes between 2004 and last year. “Eight years ago reached a million men.

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Four years later came to 1.083 million and in 2012 the number of staff of 1, 1 million,” the report said. In nine countries in South America there was a steady number of military personnel, according to the Balance 2013. But four nations increases as Colombia and Venezuela were recorded. In Chile, the soldiers fell. “The strength of the region equivalent to 31% of NATO forces, 52% of Chinese, 76% of the U.S.,” he concludes. Bidding aircraft Two aircraft manufacturers, the Aermacchi Italian and Spanish Airbus Military, questioned the award of new transport aircraft for the Ecuadorian Air Force (FAE) in which they participated. According Aeromacchi, the “situation” on the tender is “very transparent”. The Italian group (with C27J) and Spanish (with C295) and criticized last June, the procedure of the special request of the Air Force Quito. ANSA 1,106,000 soldiers were last year in the military forces of South America. Read Article