U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that he wants to increase the U.S. defense budget for next year by 50% — to $1.5 trillion — to cope with a "troubling and dangerous time," LETA reported, citing AFP.
Since returning to the presidency, Trump has frequently utilized the U.S. military — including strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen, attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities, and drug-laden vessels from Venezuela, as well as a raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
"I have determined that for the good of our country, especially in this very troubling and dangerous time, our military budget for 2027 should not be one trillion dollars, but 1.5 trillion," Trump stated on his Truth Social platform.
"This will allow us to build the 'military of our dreams' that we have long deserved, and most importantly, ensure our security — no matter who our enemy is," the president said.
Trump noted that the budget increase would be made possible by revenues from tariffs he imposed on both friendly and hostile nations.
The U.S. is already the country with the largest military expenditures in the world. Increasing it to $1.5 trillion would further widen the gap between the U.S. and rivals like China and Russia, but it could also provoke an arms race with those countries.
