THE MILITARY BALANCE

DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS military expenditure in the Middle East has increased at a far higher rate than in any other area of the world, according to the authoritative London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). In the latest edition of its annual publication, 'The Military Balance', the Institute notes that since 1978 defence expenditure in the Middle East has risen at an average rate of 7% a year - an overall increase of 35%.