Global military spending reached a new high in 2023, for the ninth time in a row as figures exceeded the previous year’s spending, a leading think tank on conflict and defence said on Monday. According to a new report published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), inflation-adjusted spending in 2023 rose by 6.8% to $2.44 trillion, compared to $2.24 trillion in 2022. This is the largest year-on-year increase since 2009, the group said. The 10 largest spenders have all significantly increased their expenditures. The war between Russia and Ukraine is also responsible f…