defense expenditure; defense cost
Refers to the amount of money a country spends on its military and defense. Used in political, economic, and news contexts.
The government plans to increase defense spending for the next fiscal year.
Defense expenditure exceeded 2% of GDP.
防衛費 is a near-synonym commonly used in official Japanese contexts (e.g., 防衛費の増額). 国防費 is slightly more formal and may appear in international comparisons.
Compound of 国防 (national defense) and 費 (expense, cost).