Top 10 Most Militarily Powerful Countries

The Top Ten
1 United States The United States of America, or the U.S.A. for short, is a federal republic composed of 50 states, 48 of them are contiguous states. There are two other states, Alaska and Hawaii, which are north and south of the contiguous states, respectively. The United States declared its independence from the... read more

Having spent 26 years in the Air Force and still working for the Air Force as a civilian, I can tell you that the United States is the world leader in logistics. Most wars are lost due to poor logistics. If you can't maintain a long supply line and get your troops where they need to be, your war effort will lose steam and you'll eventually lose. This happened to Napoleon, Santa Ana, Hitler, and even Japan. The Romans also had to avoid overextending themselves.

During the second Gulf War, the US military had to halt its move into Iraq to allow the supply line to catch up. Armies with poor logistics have to win wars quickly, or they risk losing. The United States knows this and fights long, extended wars to wear out the opponent. Unless, of course, we hit with a knockout punch during a police action. The point is, if you have poor logistics, everything else is academic.

2 India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country (with over 1.2 billion people), and the most populous democracy in the world. Its capital is New Delhi. Some other major cities are Mumbai, Chennai, and Ahemdabad... read more

The U.S. has advanced technology but is often hesitant to use it, engaging instead in unnecessary and wasteful wars. While they consider themselves liberators, many would argue otherwise. India, on the other hand, is on the UN's list of militaries to assist in crises. Moreover, America is selling military technology to India, making arguments about superiority moot.

I have read almost all the comments from all 10 countries and found that the people of the USA are overconfident. This will surely be their downfall one day. It's not that Osama Bin Laden was a genius. It's the overconfidence of Americans in believing that no one can strike them deep inside their country. They rebuked us (Indians) in their comments, but they forgot that they are the ones to be rebuked. They also forget that war is not won by weapons alone, but by courage, valor, and self-sacrifice.

In the USA, anyone who meets the physical criteria can become a soldier. On the other hand, here in India, only the jewels are selected for the divine service to the motherland. Americans won't be able to feel the emotions of an Indian soldier. Indian defense service personnel don't work just for their salary. They sacrifice their lives for Mother India. All that I've come to know is that Americans really don't understand what we Indians and Russians are about. They think they are superior only because they have nuclear weapons and high-tech weaponry, but they lack spirituality in serving their country.

They threaten to erase us from the world map but forget that they too can be erased. Lastly, our Army, Navy, and Air Force may not have the best weapons or technologies, but I'm proud that they are the best men in uniform. They are more patriotic, strong both mentally and spiritually, and physically courageous to the extent that they can not only die for Mother India but, before they die, they will eliminate the enemies.

JAI HIND.

3 Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation (RF), is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world by area, covering over 17,125,191 square kilometres (6,612,073 sq mi), and encompassing one-eighth of Earth's inhabitable landmass. Russia extends across... read more

The Russian Federation's defense budget stands at $76.6 billion and is expected to grow 44% more in the next three years. It has 766,000 active frontline personnel and 2.5 million in the reserve force. The manpower is backed by 15,500 tanks, making Russia the largest tank force in the world.

Why is the United States in second place? Do you know how many times their military has failed? Countless times in World War 2! They sent up waves and waves of men who just kept failing. When they sent up a small group of Canadians, they succeeded in achieving their goals. Why do you think most European countries dislike the United States? This is fact, not just some hate rant.

Anyway, back to Russia. Russia should be number two. They have the most nuclear weapons, a good air force, and a great navy. Their nuclear power could kill us all! Plus, they receive tough training. The US military just engages in pointless, ridiculous wars. It's like they enjoy fighting and do it because they have nothing better to do. Russia for the win.

4 China China, officially the People's Republic of China, is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population of more than 1.4 billion. China spans five geographical time zones and borders 14 countries, the second most of any country in the world after Russia. Covering an area... read more

The People's Republic of China's defense budget officially stands at $126 billion. It has a formidable army, with 2.29 million active frontline personnel and a further 2.3 million reservists, along with nearly 25,000 land vehicles.

China is nothing like what they were 100 years ago. China learned from its mistakes and its military strength. The only reason the Japanese beat them was that China was fighting a civil war. Therefore, China was not unified. If China had been a single nation, then the war would have been easier for them.

WW2 Era: China fought Japan for eight years during WWII. Japan was much more advanced militarily than China at the time and deployed five million troops into China. In the end, the Japanese still lost to China.

Fast forward to 2013: China has nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles, nuclear submarines, and fifth-generation stealth fighters. Japan is no match for the Chinese this time around.

5 United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly shortened to United Kingdom, UK or Britain is a Sovereign State located of the Northwestern coast of Europe. It is a Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy currently lead by Monarch Queen Elizabeth II and its current prime minister is... read more

The United Kingdom's defense budget stands at $60.5 billion and has an army of 146,980 soldiers. They have 407 tanks, 936 aircraft, 73 surface warships, 10 submarines, and 260 nuclear weapons. They also have tea.

The United Kingdom is still technically the strongest country in the world. It is the biggest investor in each of the top five economically performing countries in the world, even more so than China. This makes it the second-richest country in the world behind the US. The UK is home to the world's financial trading center, London, which trades trillions in sterling worldwide every day on the London Stock Exchange. It also has the best-regarded political relations worldwide. Additionally, the UK is home to BAE Systems, the most advanced global company engaged in the development, delivery, and support of defense, security, and aerospace (Air, Sea, and Land) worldwide.

6 France France, officially the French Republic, is a sovereign state comprising territory in western Europe and several overseas regions and territories. The European part of France, called metropolitan France, extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to... read more

The French Republic's defense budget stands at $62.3 billion and has an army of 202,761 soldiers. They have 423 tanks, 1,264 aircraft, 126 surface warships, 10 submarines, and 290 nuclear weapons. Vive la France!

France is the strongest European military power, aside perhaps from Russia, because of its high-tech weapons. Many of these weapons are the most advanced in the world in quality and are produced by France, which is an important weapons exporter. I know that some other Western European countries such as Great Britain and Germany are also military powers, but they are much less involved than France. Moreover, France is the most involved country in current conflicts alongside the USA.

7 Germany Germany was formally united in 1871 under the initiative of Bismarck with King Wilhelm of Prussia as emperor. The previous 'Holy Roman Empire', basically a continuation of the empire of Charlemagne/Karl der Grosse was dissolved in 1806... read more

I think the German army is underestimated. They may not have the largest number of troops, nor do they possess nuclear power. However, as I've heard, they could create nuclear weapons within minutes. After all, they are the country that contributed to the invention of the atomic bomb.

Even if they are selling their highly developed tanks and other equipment to other states, that doesn't mean they haven't already developed new weapons that none of their allies know about. I believe German perfectionism makes them one of the most feared enemies you could have.

Remember WWII: if the war had lasted longer without the U.S. entering the conflict, and considering its nearly infinite amount of resources relative to Germany, the country could have fought off all its enemies solely through more advanced techniques. They may not be in first place, but they're still worth mentioning.

8 Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia in the Pacific Ocean. It lies off the eastern coast of the Asia Mainland (east of China, Korea, Russia) and stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and near Taiwan in the southwest... read more

If you think about it, almost every war that Japan has participated in so far, they've been behind in technology. Then they study their heads off and become insanely strong. Look at WW2. If we end up in WW3, Japan will, without a doubt, be one of the global superpowers when it comes to technology.

Survived for 22,000 years without being successfully invaded. They did get defeated by the USA dropping nukes on them, but even the Mongols couldn't conquer them. And the Mongols basically did nothing but conquer.

9 South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its eastern border is defined by the Sea of Japan. South Korea claims... read more

South Korea is strong but still has many areas for military improvement. It has managed to defeat some countries but still relies on external help. I do agree that North Korea is strong, but it is also very aggressive. I'm surprised it's a member of the UN. Overall, South Korea is a respectably strong country that cannot be ignored. It should continue to grow.

Go! The country of a "peaceful quiet morning," which makes it Cho Sun.

Actually, Korea is a peaceful country. Despite loud and noisy neighbors like Japan and China, this country has always been reluctant to fight and has no history of invasion, except for battles to reclaim their lands.

During the Cho Sun dynasty, Korea attacked the Japanese Tsushima Island to discipline Japanese pirates. They conquered the island but returned it to Japan shortly thereafter.

The ancestors of Koreans are called sunbi. They wore white clothing and loved reading and walking through the mountains.

So, if Japan is a country of samurai, Korea is a country of sunbi, which is a character completely opposite to that of samurai.

It's a bit sad for me that South Korea has become a militarily strong country these days. Because of the U.S. and the Soviet Union, Korea was split into two nations. Now these two Koreas pose a threat to each other, compelling South Korea to become a strong military power. In essence, they are doing the things they most wish to avoid.

I hope Korea will be unified again and live as peacefully as they always have in the past.

10 Israel Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia. It is situated on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea, and shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the northeast, Jordan to the east, and Egypt to the southwest; it is also... read more

Israel has a high-quality military force. Its soldiers are very well-trained and experienced. It also has a good air force, and its special forces are formidable. Despite being a small country, none of its Islamic neighbors have ever defeated Israel in war. Israel has remained a sovereign state since it was created after WWII.

Israel may not have the largest army, but the quality of its military personnel is of the highest caliber. Their officers and commandos are among the most effective in the world. Additionally, they train the United States' police officers and military personnel.

The Contenders
11 North Korea The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, also known as North Korea, is a country in Eastern Asia. Its capital is Pyongyang. It is currently ruled by the Juche leader Kim Jong-Un, after inheriting the title from his father, Kim Jong-Il, who in turn inherited it from his father, Kim Il-Sung... read more

It's curious why North Korea is not in the list of the top 10 militaries. North Korea has strong army forces characterized by a deep sense of unity and discipline. Citizens are conditioned from a young age to serve their leader as if he were a god, fueled by propaganda that instills patriotic fervor. Their military is well-trained, with minds filled with a hatred for Americans, a sentiment instilled since kindergarten. If their seniors criticize them, they are conditioned to accept it for self-improvement.

North Korea resembles a large prison camp, with citizens largely unaware of the outside world. The government focuses its main developmental efforts on nuclear weapons and also purchases a significant amount of military hardware from China and Russia.

12 Turkey Turkey, officially the Republic of Turkey, is a transcontinental country in Eurasia, mainly in Anatolia in Western Asia, with a smaller portion on the Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. Turkey is bordered by eight countries with Greece and Bulgaria to the northwest; Georgia to the northeast; Armenia,... read more

Turkey has one of the most powerful armies in the world, a continuation of the Ottoman Empire. As you know, the Ottoman Empire was once a dominant global power. Because of this, Turkey's soldiers are experienced and well-trained. They also have a special team called the Maroon Berets, which is the best special team in the world (you can Google it). Turkey is also a highly advanced and civilized country. They have their own weapons and planes, among other things.

The Ottoman Empire, always with God on its way, has always been victorious. Your fathers bestowed it on the soil, and by the permission of Allah, they always obtained victory.

13 Canada Canada is a country in North America that is next to the United States, and it's the 2nd largest country in the world by area (size is 9.985 million km²). This country has 10 provinces, and 3 territories. Canada became a dominion on July 1, 1867. Its 10 provinces are: Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec,... read more

Canada is not a major military power and has only small and lightly-funded armed forces. Canada's military rose in size and professionalism after the two world wars. Canada has an army, navy, and air force centralized under a single hierarchy with joint command units. (Had to copy and paste. Don't mind.)

Canadians train Americans in their combat skills. Our forces may be small, but the skill in a true Canadian could be any country's ticket to hell. We never give up, never surrender, and will never let anyone take our beautiful homeland!

14 Italy Italy (Italian: Repubblica Italiana) is a sovereign state and unitary parliamentary republic in south-central Europe.

Italy covers an area of 301,338 km². With almost 62 million inhabitants, it is the third most populous EU member state. Located in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, Italy shares... read more

Italy is the fifth country in terms of importance and contribution within NATO.

It's also part of the 'NATO Quint Group' (USA, Germany, France, Italy, UK), which are the most influential countries in the Western Hemisphere.

Italy is the fifth most important player in NATO, the fifth contributor, and second in terms of the number of soldiers engaged in missions abroad.

Of course, Italy has a great navy. Italy's navy boasts two aircraft carriers, four destroyers, and many other warships.

15 Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. With an area of 7,617,930 square kilometres (2,941,300 sq mi), Australia is the largest country by area in Oceania and... read more

The Australian army has about 46,000 active soldiers and 56,000 reserve soldiers. The land is vast, but only about 22 million people actually live there. I am Australian, and what I like most about our military is its war history and the SAS. The Aussie SAS are so well-trained that you wouldn't know the difference if you saw a British team in combat or an Australian one, because the British are also well-trained. Australia has pretty good pilots and a navy that keeps our waters safe. The only thing we lack is vehicles, as we don't produce many of our war machinery. Nearly all of it is imported from Western Europe or North America, but at least we know how to make the best use of them.

16 Vietnam Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia.

Did you know that "This" beat the US, France, and China in the past? With their will to do anything to protect their country and their unmeasured patriotism, they are bold. What kind of army can stand against those during "day and night"? And their creative traps/weapons have made history.

Their military system is so powerful! I mean, Southeast Asia's most powerful military system is something I've really known my whole life to make this country a peaceful and progressive one. Way to go!

They're sizing up their military for the fight for resources in the South China Sea. Vietnam isn't scared of a fight, so it's pretty impressive.

17 Iran Iran, also known as Persia, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a sovereign state in Western Asia. The capital city is Teheran and the major city is also Tehran. The country's official language is Persian... read more

The fact that Iran has protected itself successfully for more than 6,000 years shows its power. Some of the countries at the top of power rankings have only been created 100 or 200 years ago. Some owe their power to their geographical position, being far away from other lands. Iran is located in the middle of everything and has remained a significant, powerful empire.

Iran is a Muslim country with the largest, most powerful, and strongest army in the Middle East. It has up-to-date guns, weapons, and nuclear capabilities. The army is so brave and strong that it fights with immense bravery. PAK Iran ZINDABAD.

18 Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the northeast, and the Philippines to the south. The territories controlled... read more

Taiwan has a very strong military.

19 Egypt Egypt, officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Gaza Strip (Palestine) and Israel to the northeast,... read more

HMM...

Egypt Air Force:
Receives 75% of military spending.
Really overpowered!

Army/Marine Corps:
Receives the remaining 25%.
Can still be pretty decent.

They have a very large air force. I think most of their spending is on aircraft, which gives them a huge advantage over opponents, especially those that don't even have an air force.

The country spends a lot on its air force because they know that no one would ever be foolish enough to attack them on land. One would have to go through tons of desert just to get there, and I don't think anyone has the will to do that.

20 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country on the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It has a land area of about 2,150,000 km2 (830,000 sq mi), making it the fifth-largest country in Asia, the second-largest in the Arab world, and the largest in Western Asia. It is bordered... read more

Bappa Rawal chased Muslim invaders all the way to their point of origin, which is Arabia.

21 Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At 8.5 million square kilometers (3,300,000 sq mi) and with over 214 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area and the sixth most populous. Its capital is Brasília,... read more

The Brazilian army has the best jungle fighters in the world. If they had been in the Afghanistan war, they would have won.

We won all the wars we participated in.

22 Vatican City Vatican City, officially Vatican City State or the State of Vatican City, is a walled enclave within the city of Rome. It is the smallest nation on Earth, and is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church.
23 Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia. Ruled by the Dutch for over 300 years and Japan for 3 years and 6 months, the country gained independence in 1945, or exactly in 17th August 1945. Jakarta is the capital city, located in the island of Java. Major languages... read more

What! Why is Indonesia 78th best in the world? They are clearly top 30 in the world. Do you guys read history? They are actually the 19th best in the world. Sure, they don't have any nuclear power, but they have the best troops and the best weapons. The troops have been trained to be great, which they are. That is why Indonesia should be at least number 7 on this list.

I believe the Indonesian army is not afraid. Besides, the Indonesian army is one strong piece of armed forces.

Indonesia has tough and fearless soldiers. Even without modern tools, they can still survive in any situation.

24 Iceland Iceland is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Iceland's capital and largest city is Reykjavík, which (along with its surrounding areas) is home to over 65% of the population. Iceland is the only part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge that... read more

They only have around 100 coast guards and policemen.

There will be peace there forever.

25 Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe, bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine and Belarus to the east; and the Baltic Sea, Kaliningrad Oblast (a Russian exclave) and Lithuania to the north. With a population of approximately... read more

Poland has definitely been growing in military size ever since World War Two, and I would say it's honestly quite overlooked how powerful it can be.

This country suffered but resisted being taken over every time. As it reached today, it's still standing strong.

We can fight back when we want and win. We defeated the Soviets in the Polish-Soviet War.

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