Modern-Aviation

10. Korea, Republic
- Military expenditure (2017): $39.2 billion
- Military expenditure as a % of general government expenditure (2017): 12.1% (#16 among countries)
- Military expenditure per capita (2017): $761 (#13 among countries)
Tensions between South Korea and its northern neighbor shaped much of the Republic's defense policy—and budget since the Korean Peninsula was divided at the end of the Korean War. A significant portion of the budget proposed in 2018 has been earmarked for efforts to increase cooperation between the two countries. President Moon Jae-in and North Korea's Kim Jong Un signed the Panmunjom Declaration after a summit in April last year and committed to halt in hostilities and denuclearization, though that goal remains elusive.

12. Italy

- Military expenditure (2017): $29.2 billion
- Military expenditure as a % of general government expenditure (2017): 3.1% (#100 among countries)
- Military expenditure per capita (2017): $483 (#21 among countries)
Unlike most countries on this list, Italy has been actively trying to decrease its defense spending. The populist government has announced plans to slash half a billion dollars from the military's budget in 2019 in order to fund social programs. This puts the country's spending well below the NATO target of 2% of GDP and has drawn the ire of allies. Italy seeks to amend what counts as defense spending under NATO rules, arguing that cybersecurity should be included when calculating how much a nation is putting toward its defense.