Why Military Spending Should Not Be Increased Because of Russia

The U.S. military budget is poised to surge above $800 billion, and many Members of Congress cite the threat posed by Russia as a key reason it must continue to rise.

But in a forthcoming study from Brown University’s Costs of War Project, military strategy expert Lyle Goldstein offers evidence to the contrary, and lays out the case for why the United States should not engage in threat inflation when it comes to Russia, or use Russia as an excuse to expand the military budget.

This virtual briefing will walk through the key evidence in Goldstein’s paper, and discuss the implications for the U.S. military budget. Lyle will be joined by military budget expert Bill Hartung and the conversation will be moderated by peace and security strategist Elizabeth Beavers.