Arab states spent $53 billion on arms in year 2000 alone
Regional, Military, 4/4/2002

The Arab states in 2000 spent 27.4 per cent of their total spending to defence and security, while only 9.1 per cent was allocated for economic affairs, a report said.

Gulf News had reported "With total expenditure standing at $197.7 billion in 2000, defence allocations were estimated at around $53 billion while spending on economic activities and other investments stood at nearly $17.7 billion."

"The GCC (Gulf states) spent for defence and security around 35 per cent of their total expenditure. This means they spent around $34 billion on defence in 2000, nearly 64 per cent of the total Arab military expenditure" Gulf News reported.

In 1997 Arab states spent $35.7 billion on weapons. This Êfigure rose to $38.7 billion a year later."

Between 1995 and 2000, the Arab Gulf states spent around $580 billion, about 30 per cent of this went to defense and security, adding up to $173 billion, the report said.

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