What is a common indication of a country spending a lot on military due to rivalry?

The correct choice, higher military budget, reflects a common indication of a country allocating substantial resources to its military in response to rivalry with other nations. When nations face real or perceived threats from rivals, they often prioritize military spending to enhance their defensive and offensive capabilities. This can include acquiring advanced weaponry, increasing the size of the military, improving training programs, and investing in intelligence capabilities.

Rivalries can drive nations to bolster their military presence and capabilities to deter aggression from adversaries or to assert their power in regional or global contexts. Therefore, a notable increase in the military budget directly correlates with such geopolitical dynamics, indicating a potential arms race or heightened tensions in international relations.

The other choices relate to different areas of state spending that may be influenced by various factors unrelated to military rivalry. Increased healthcare spending or educational funding typically signals a focus on domestic welfare rather than military concerns. Reduction of diplomatic efforts might suggest a shift toward isolationism or disengagement from international cooperation, which, while potentially linked to military rivalry, doesn’t directly indicate increased military spending. Thus, the military budget is the most clear and direct indicator of a country's response to rivalry through military investment.