25 most powerful militaries in Europe

NATO Finland Sweden Trident Juncture
Personnel from the Finnish Defence Forces 71st Motorized Battalion in formation at the Älvdalen training grounds in Sweden, October 27, 2018
 Finnish Defence Force/VIlle Multanen
NATO member and partner forces are in Norway for a sprawling military exercise called Trident Juncture — the largest since the Cold War, officials have said. 
Russia is not happy with NATO's robust presence next to its territory and has decided to put on its own show of force.
From November 1 to November 3, Russian ships will carry out rocket drills in the Norwegian Sea, west of activities related to Trident Juncture, which runs from October 25 to November 7. 
The exercises come at a time of heightened tension in Europe, home to some of the world's most capable armed forces, based on the 2018 military strength rankingcompiled by Global Firepower. 
The ranking aims to level the playing between smaller countries with technical advantages and larger, less-sophisticated countries. 
Additional factors — geography, logistical capabilities, natural resources, and industrial capacity — are taken into account, as are things like diversity of weapons and assets, national development, and manpower. 
NATO members, 27 of which are European, also get a boost, as the alliance is designed to share resources and military support. The US military has a massive presence in Europe — including its largest base outside the US— but isn't included here as the US isn't part of Europe. 
Below, you can see the 25 most powerful militaries in Europe. 

25. Belgium (Overall ranking: 68)

25. Belgium (Overall ranking: 68)
Belgium air force helicopter Alouette III takes off from BNS Godetia for a tactical flight over the fjords in support of an amphibious exercise during NATO's Trident Juncture exercise.
 NATO Photo By WO FRAN C.Valverde
Power Index rating: 1.0885 
Total population: 11,491,346 
Total military personnel: 38,800 
Total aircraft strength: 164 
Fighter aircraft: 45 
Combat tanks: 0 
Total naval assets: 17 
Defense budget: $5.085 billion 

24. Portugal (Overall ranking: 63)

24. Portugal (Overall ranking: 63)
A Portuguese sniper team identifies targets during the range-estimation event of the Europe Best Sniper Team Competition at 7th Army Training Command’s Grafenwoehr Training Area, July 29, 2018.
 US Army/Spc. Emily Houdershieldt
Power Index rating: 1.0035 
Total population: 10,839,514 
Total military personnel: 268,500 
Total aircraft strength: 93 
Fighter aircraft: 24 
Combat tanks: 133 
Total naval assets: 41 
Defense budget: $3.8 billion 

23. Slovakia (Overall ranking: 62)

23. Slovakia (Overall ranking: 62)
Slovak soldiers report to their commander during the opening ceremony of Slovak Shield 2018 at Lest Military Training Center, September 23, 2018.
 US Army/1st Lt. Caitlin Sweet
Power Index rating: 0.9998 
Total population: 5,445,829 
Total military personnel: 14,675 
Total aircraft strength: 49 
Fighter aircraft: 18 
Combat tanks: 22 
Total naval assets: 0 
Defense budget: $1.025 billion 

22. Austria (Overall ranking: 61)

22. Austria (Overall ranking: 61)
Austrian soldiers load gear onto their packhorses before hiking to a high-angle range during the International Special Training Centre High-Angle/Urban Course at the Hochfilzen Training Area, Austria, September 12, 2018.
 US Army
Power Index rating: 0.9953 
Total population: 8,754,413 
Total military personnel: 170,000 
Total aircraft strength: 124 
Fighter aircraft: 15 
Combat tanks: 56 
Total naval assets: 0 
Defense budget: $3.22 billion 

21. Bulgaria (Overall ranking: 60)

21. Bulgaria (Overall ranking: 60)
A Bulgarian army tank crew maneuvers a T-72 tank during an exercise with US soldiers from the 1st Cavalry Division's 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team at the Novo Selo Training Area, September 15, 2018.
 US Army National Guard/Sgt. Jamar Marcel Pugh
Power Index rating: 0.9839 
Total population: 7,101,510 
Total military personnel: 52,650 
Total aircraft strength: 73 
Fighter aircraft: 20 
Combat tanks: 531 
Total naval assets: 29 
Defense budget: $700 million 

20. Finland (Overall ranking: 59)

20. Finland (Overall ranking: 59)
Standing NATO Maritime Group One trains with Finnish fast-attack missile boat FNS Hanko during a passing exercise in the Baltic Sea, August 28, 2017.
NATO/FRAN CPO Christian Valverde
Power Index rating: 0.9687 
Total population: 5,518,371 
Total military personnel: 262,050 
Total aircraft strength: 153 
Fighter aircraft: 55 
Combat tanks: 160 
Total naval assets: 270 
Defense budget: $3.66 billion 

19. Hungary (Overall ranking: 57)

19. Hungary (Overall ranking: 57)
Cpl. Cedric Jackson, a US soldier from the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team of Army's 1st Infantry Division, assists a Hungarian soldier in applying tape to secure a fluid-administration tube to a simulated casualty during a combat life-saver course led by US troops in Tata, Hungary, December 2017.
US Army/2nd Lt. Gabor Horvath
Power Index rating: 0.9153 
Total population: 9,850,845 
Total military personnel: 77,250 
Total aircraft strength: 35 
Fighter aircraft: 12 
Combat tanks: 32 
Total naval assets: 0 
Defense budget: $1.04 billion 

18. Denmark (Overall ranking: 54)

18. Denmark (Overall ranking: 54)
Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite and Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen visit the Danish air force team during its NATO air-policing mission in Siauliai, Lithuania, January 15, 2018.
 REUTERS/Ints Kalnins
Power Index rating: 0.9084 
Total population: 5,605,948 
Total military personnel: 75,150 
Total aircraft strength: 113 
Fighter aircraft: 33 
Combat tanks: 57 
Total naval assets: 90 
Defense budget: $4.44 billion 

17. Belarus (Overall ranking: 41)

17. Belarus (Overall ranking: 41)
A Belarussian Sukhoi Su-25 jet lands on the M1/E30 road during military exercises near the village of Krysovo, southwest of Minsk, September 23, 2015.
 REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko
Power Index rating: 0.7315 
Total population: 9,549,747 
Total military personnel: 401,250 
Total aircraft strength: 202 
Fighter aircraft: 43 
Combat tanks: 515 
Total naval assets: 0 
Defense budget: $725 million 

16. Romania (Overall ranking: 40)

16. Romania (Overall ranking: 40)
A Romanian soldier adjusts her helmet during weapons training with US Marines during exercise Spring Storm at Capu Midia, Romania.
 Vadim Ghirda/AP Photo
Power Index rating: 0.7205 
Total population: 21,529,967 
Total military personnel: 177,750 
Total aircraft strength: 135 
Fighter aircraft: 34 
Combat tanks: 827 
Total naval assets: 48 
Defense budget: $2.19 billion 

15. Netherlands (Overall ranking: 38)

15. Netherlands (Overall ranking: 38)
Dutch soldiers rest after a battle display at the military training ground in Rukla, Lithuania, August 11, 2017.
 Reuters
Power Index rating: 0.7113 
Total population: 17,084,719 
Total military personnel: 53,205 
Total aircraft strength: 165 
Fighter aircraft: 61 
Combat tanks: 0 
Total naval assets: 56 
Defense budget: $9.84 billion 

14. Norway (Overall ranking: 36)

14. Norway (Overall ranking: 36)
A Norwegian soldier takes aim during Trident Juncture 18 near Røros, Norway, October 2018.
 NATO
Power Index rating: 0.6784 
Total population: 5,320,045 
Total military personnel: 72,500 
Total aircraft strength: 128 
Fighter aircraft: 49 
Combat tanks: 52 
Total naval assets: 62 
Defense budget: $7 billion 

13. Switzerland (Overall ranking: 34)

13. Switzerland (Overall ranking: 34)
A member of a Swiss army honor guard drinks water before the arrival of Belgian King Philippe in Bern, Switzerland, June 22, 2017.
 REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann
Power Index rating: 0.6634 
Total population: 8,236,303 
Total military personnel: 171,000 
Total aircraft strength: 167 
Fighter aircraft: 54 
Combat tanks: 134 
Total naval assets: 0 
Defense budget: $4.83 billion 

12. Sweden (Overall ranking: 31)

12. Sweden (Overall ranking: 31)
Swedish air force Pvt. Salem Mimic, left, and Pvt. Andreas Frojd, right, both with Counter Special Forces Platoon, provide security for US Air Force airmen and aircraft on the flight line at Kallax Air Base, Sweden, during Exercise Trident Juncture 18, Oct. 26, 2018.
 U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder
Power Index rating: 0.6071 
Total population: 9,960,487 
Total military personnel: 43,875 
Total aircraft strength: 206 
Fighter aircraft: 72 
Combat tanks: 120 
Total naval assets: 63 
Defense budget: $6.2 billion 

11. Czech Republic (Overall ranking: 30)

11. Czech Republic (Overall ranking: 30)
Czech service members participate in a parade marking the Czech centennial, observed by US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, in Prague, Czech Republic, October 28, 2018.
 Defense Department/Lisa Ferdinando
Power Index rating: 0.5969 
Total population: 10,674,723 
Total military personnel: 29,050 
Total aircraft strength: 103 
Fighter aircraft: 12 
Combat tanks: 123 
Total naval assets: 0 
Defense budget: $2.6 billion 

10. Ukraine (Overall ranking: 29)

10. Ukraine (Overall ranking: 29)
Ukrainian troops from Donbass battalion train with small arms outside Mariupol, Ukraine, on March 13, 2015.
 Getty
Power Index rating: 0.5383 
Total population: 44,033,874 
Total military personnel: 1,182,000 
Total aircraft strength: 240 
Fighter aircraft: 39 
Combat tanks: 2,214 
Total naval assets: 25 
Defense budget: $4.88 billion 

9. Greece (Overall ranking: 28)

9. Greece (Overall ranking: 28)
Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos, left speaks with Greek soldiers in front of a Greek flag as he attends a reservist exercise on the eastern island of Ikaria, Greece, April 4, 2018.
 Associated Press
Power Index rating: 0.5255 
Total population: 10,768,477 
Total military personnel: 413,750 
Total aircraft strength: 567 
Fighter aircraft: 189 
Combat tanks: 1,345 
Total naval assets: 115 
Defense budget: $6.54 billion 

8. Poland (Overall ranking: 22)

8. Poland (Overall ranking: 22)
A commander instructs a recruit during a 16-day basic training for Poland's Territorial Defense Forces, at a shooting range near Siedlce, Poland, December 7, 2017.
 Reuters
Power Index rating: 0.4276 
Total population: 38,476,269 
Total military personnel: 184,650 
Total aircraft strength: 466 
Fighter aircraft: 99 
Combat tanks: 1,065 
Total naval assets: 83 
Defense budget: $9.36 billion 

7. Spain (Overall ranking: 19)

7. Spain (Overall ranking: 19)
A sniper and spotter from the Spanish Lepanto Battalion line up their target near Folldal during Exercise Trident Juncture, using the .50 caliber Barrett and the .338 caliber Accuracy sniper rifles, firing at targets over 1,000 meters away.
 Photo by 1st German/Netherlands Corps
Power Index rating: 0.4079 
Total population: 48,958,159 
Total military personnel: 174,700 
Total aircraft strength: 524 
Fighter aircraft: 122 
Combat tanks: 327 
Total naval assets: 46 (one aircraft carrier) 
Defense budget: $11.6 billion 

6. Italy (Overall ranking: 11)

6. Italy (Overall ranking: 11)
An Italian F-35A fighter jet with special tail markings
 Italian Air Force
Power Index rating: 0.2565 
Total population: 62,137,802 
Total military personnel: 267,500 
Total aircraft strength: 828 
Fighter aircraft: 90 
Combat tanks: 200 
Total naval assets: 143 (two aircraft carriers) 
Defense budget: $37.7 billion 

5. Germany (Overall ranking: 10)

5. Germany (Overall ranking: 10)
A German Bundeswehr armed forces recruit of the Mechanized Infantry Battalion 411 takes position during a drill at a military training area in Viereck, Germany, August 8, 2018.
 REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch
Power Index rating: 0.2461 
Total population: 80,594,017 
Total military personnel: 208,641 
Total aircraft strength: 714 
Fighter aircraft: 94 
Combat tanks: 432 
Total naval assets: 81 
Defense budget: $45.2 billion 

4. Turkey (Overall ranking: 9)

4. Turkey (Overall ranking: 9)
Turkish troops take control of Bursayah hill, which separates the Kurdish-held enclave of Afrin from the Turkey-controlled town of Azaz, Syria, January 28, 2018.
 Associated Press
Power Index rating: 0.2216 
Total population: 80,845,215 
Total military personnel: 710,565 
Total aircraft strength: 1,056 
Fighter aircraft: 207 
Combat tanks: 2,446 
Total naval assets: 194 
Defense budget: $10.2 billion 

3. United Kingdom (Overall ranking: 6)

3. United Kingdom (Overall ranking: 6)
British troops arrive to Hoek van Holland to travel by land to Norway, as part of a NATO military exercise, in Hoek van Holland, Netherlands, October 10, 2018. 
REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw
Power Index rating: 0.1917 
Total population: 64,769,452 
Total military personnel: 279,230 
Total aircraft strength: 832 
Fighter aircraft: 103 
Combat tanks: 227 
Total naval assets: 76 (two aircraft carriers) 
Defense budget: $50 billion 

2. France (Overall ranking: 5)

2. France (Overall ranking: 5)
French sailors watch the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush as it transits alongside the French navy frigate Forbin, October 25, 2017.
 US Navy/Mass Comm. Specialist 3rd Class Matt Matlage
Power Index rating: 0.1869 
Total population: 67,106,161 
Total military personnel: 388,635 
Total aircraft strength: 1,262 
Fighter aircraft: 299 
Combat tanks: 406 
Total naval assets: 118 (four aircraft carriers) 
Defense budget: $40 billion 

1. Russia (Overall ranking: 2)

1. Russia (Overall ranking: 2)
Russian troops participating in the Zapad 2017 exercises in Belarus and Russia.
 Russian Ministry of Defense
Power Index rating: 0.0841 
Total population: 142,257,519 
Total military personnel: 3,586,128 
Total aircraft strength: 3,914 
Fighter aircraft: 818 
Combat tanks: 20,300 
Total naval assets: 352 (one aircraft carrier) 
Defense budget: $47 billion 

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