IISS Sees Saudi Military Spending Above UK

• The London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies estimates Saudi Arabia’s 2013 budget to be about $2.6B higher than the UK’s. Unlike recent figures from IHS Jane’s this contradicts the British government’s claim to the 4th worldwide spot. Either way, Jane’s points out that the Saudi budget trebled in 10 years, and DID has been describing Saudi weapon buys over the past decade as veritable shopping sprees. This doesn’t look like a country that intends to settle to waging war with Iran just through proxies.