Arab Center Washington DC (ACW), in partnership with the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s (SIPRI) Military Expenditure and Arms Production Programme (MILAP), are organizing this webinar to present highlights from the latest data and discuss possible drivers of military spending and its implications for transparency and accountability, socio-economic development, political power of the military, and the rights and freedoms of domestic populations. Who are the major military spenders in the region? What are the trends of military expenditure in MENA countries? Are there insights into what the military expenditure is being spent on? How transparent and accountable are these military budgets? How significant is the role of external military assistance in the region? Given the high military burden and government priority placed on the military, what are the potential developmental impacts in the region? Is there a link between military expenditure and authoritarian tendencies and the declining rights and freedoms of domestic populations? What are some recommendations to ensure transparency and accountability in military expenditure, along with sufficient investments in human and socio-economic development and democratic governance?