Western defence cuts lead to shift in global power balance

Economic woes coupled with war fatigue, or I should say, "military intervention fatigue", is leading to severe pressure on western defence budgets. Not surprisingly, at a time spending on all public services is being cut.

But elsewhere, notably Asia and the Middle East, military spending and arms acquisitions are booming, observes a leading security thinktank. Something potentially very significant is happening.

"There is persuasive evidence that a global redistribution of military power is under way", John Chipman, director-general of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said at the launch of the latest annual edition of The Military Balance on Tuesday.

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