Not even a global pandemic or the consequent economic collapse could put a brake on global weapons expenditure. In fact, a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute suggests that government spending on military hardware actually increased during the pandemic. Arms sales hit a record $531 billion in 2020 – that's a 1.3 percent rise compared to the previous year. So what triggered the major hike in sales? And is it money well spent during a global pandemic?

Guests:

Elisabeth Braw

Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute

Owen Greene

Professor of International Security at the University of Bradford