Which European country spends the most on defense? Who has the largest number of active soldiers? And which countries plan to become a military leader in the coming years? Here we answer:
Donald Trump can rejoice - the new German Foreign Minister Johann Wadeful insists that the government invest 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) in defense.
Germany supports the proposal of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte - 3.5 percent of GDP should go to military spending and another 1.5% - to defense infrastructure. However, the final decisions will be taken at the NATO summit in The Hague at the end of June.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced earlier that he wants to make the Bundeswehr "the strongest conventional army in Europe". Other EU countries also have ambitious military goals.
Poland: on the front line of the eastern flank
Poland has been making ambitious investments in its army for years. Warsaw's goal is to become the largest armed force in Europe. Last year, 4.12% of the Polish economy was allocated to the defense budget. The declared goal is one - effective deterrence of Russia.
The Polish army currently has about 150,000 soldiers, and it is expected that by 2035 they will reach 300,000. At the same time, the country is arming itself with modern equipment - 600 tanks from South Korea and the United States, HIMARS missiles, drones, and soon F-35 fighters. However, Poland's navy is considered weak.
Germany: from postponement to leadership?
With the announced increase in defense spending to 5 percent, Germany is taking a historic turn in security. Since the end of the Cold War, the Federal Republic has relied on international cooperation and the "culture of military restraint". Immediately after the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Olaf Scholz spoke of a turning point in history. His government has allocated 100 billion euros in a special fund for the Bundeswehr. In 2024, regular defense spending will amount to about 90 billion euros, or about 2.1 percent of GDP. Increasing it to 5 percent would require an annual defense budget of more than 160 billion euros.
The Bundeswehr currently has approximately 182,000 active-duty soldiers. The Ministry of Defense aims to reach at least 203,000 personnel by 2031, although a target of 240,000 is being discussed in some circles. The ongoing modernization affects all types of armed forces: outdated tanks, aircraft and ships must be replaced, and digitalization and leadership capabilities must be expanded.
France: a nuclear power with global ambitions
France is the only nuclear power in the EU and is pursuing a strategy of global presence and military independence. The army has approximately 203,000 soldiers, 175,000 members of paramilitary units such as the gendarmerie and 26,000 reservists. The French Navy has a powerful nuclear deterrent component, including the aircraft carrier "Charles de Gaulle" and strategic submarines. The "Rafale" fighter jets are designed to provide air superiority and are also equipped to deploy nuclear weapons. Since taking office in 2017, President Emmanuel Macron has worked to significantly increase the defense budget. In a dramatic television address in early March, the president detailed the population about the "Russian threat" looming over Europe. In this regard, he proposed an almost doubling of the French defense budget.
In the past, France maintained a military budget comparable to that of Germany, but used it to build a more combat-ready army - not least because the state has always strategically supported its arms industry.
Great Britain: heavily armed but vulnerable
Great Britain has set itself the goal of spending 2.4% of GDP on defense, focusing on high-tech: drones, artificial intelligence and laser systems. The Royal Navy has two aircraft carriers, of which only one is usually operational, and the air force is considered state-of-the-art. The backbone of the air force is the F-35 fighter jets from the US, of which the government intends to purchase a total of 138.
However, the British armed forces are relatively small, with approximately 140,000 active-duty soldiers (including 4,000 Gurkhas from Nepal and India). Unlike many EU countries, there are currently no significant plans to increase personnel. British military equipment is more dependent on American technology than many other EU countries. This applies not least to nuclear weapons deployed on submarines.
Italy: a strong navy and a land army that leaves much to be desired
The percentage of GDP that Italy currently spends on defense is far below NATO's target of 1.49%. However, with 165,000 active-duty soldiers, two aircraft carriers and a powerful air force, the country has one of the strongest armies in Europe.
However, Italy's armed forces are considered outdated and in need of reform. This is about to change: Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni aims to make Italy the strongest tank force in Europe. More than 1,000 tanks have been ordered from "Rheinmetall" to this end. Strategically, Italy is focused on the Mediterranean region and the protection of global trade routes.
The global balance remains the same
In the medium term, Europe's multi-billion-dollar rearmament programs will not have a major impact on the global distribution of military forces. The United States clearly tops the rankings, followed by Russia, China and India. The leading European power, Britain, is only in sixth place. France is in ninth place, and Germany is currently in eleventh place.