White House requests $1.5 tn defence budget

The White House sent a spending proposal to lawmakers calling for a massive $1.5 trillion US defence budget next year as it faces increased costs due to the war in Iran. The total year-on-year increase in Pentagon spending would be the largest since World War II, US media reported, although presidential budgets are wish lists that have to be approved by Congress, rather than binding orders. The request would represent a 42 per cent hike in the Pentagon topline for 2026. — AFP