Direct military costs are staggering. But indirect costs dwarf them:
Cost Category
Estimated Figure
Who Pays
U.S. Red Sea interceptors (Nov 2023–Jan 2025)
$670M–$854M
U.S. taxpayers
U.S. THAAD stockpile consumed (June 2025 war)
~25% of total inventory
U.S. defense budget; years to replace
Allied support to Ukraine (2022–2025)
$200B+
Western taxpayers
Red Sea shipping disruption
$1 trillion in goods
Global consumers
Egypt Suez Canal revenue loss
$6 billion (2024)
Egyptian economy
Insurance premium increases
500% for Red Sea
Global shippers/consumers
Qatar LNG output reduction
17% (Iranian strike)
Global energy markets
Ukraine infrastructure damage
$200B+
Ukrainian population; international donors
Russia’s oil refining disruption
17% capacity offline
Russian economy; global oil prices
Operation Rough Rider cost
$1 billion+ (by April 2025)
U.S. taxpayers (Congressional debate)
The distributional injustice is stark: the U.S. absorbs $550M in missile defense costs; Egypt cannot absorb $6B in lost revenue. The global south bears disproportionate costs of wars it did not choose. Developing nations dependent on stable shipping and commodity prices suffer most from conflicts in which they have no voice.