It was twice in forty years when Europe became
a flashpoint and the entire world went to war. In both World War I and World War II, the
majority of the world’s armies picked a side and pitted superpower against superpower. In the aftermath of the carnage, the world
determined that this must never happen again, and military conflicts since then have been
much smaller scale - mostly pitting one country against each other in localized conflicts. But what if it happened again? If another World War broke out, it would be
happening on a very different playing field than the early 20th century. Countries that were powerhouses have scaled
back their armies, and bit players and neutral powers in the World Wars have become massive
military players. In today’s world, who would be the countries
that could tilt the balance of a massive global conflict? Who are the top ten most powerful militaries
in 2020? #10. Brazil Brazil isn’t where you’d think to look
for a military powerhouse, as South America is not typically the site of major military
conflicts. But Brazil is the 6th largest country by population
in the world, and the fast-growing and diverse nation is home to the Amazon rainforest, one
of the world’s most unique biospheres. That means they need a good military to manage
a complex set of affairs - and to fend off any criminal elements or foreign invaders
looking to profit off their unique resources. With an Army, Navy, and Air Force, their armed
forces are the second-largest in the Americas and have over 334,000 active-duty members. But what’s the secret to Brazil’s recruitment
efforts? They don’t have to recruit! Brazil is one of several countries on this
list with conscription, and every 18-45 year old male in the country has to do ten to twelve
months of national service. That means they have over 1.3 million reserve
members, because discharged conscripts who underwent the training can be called up to
defend the country in a crisis. But Brazil’s military has one of the more
eclectic missions of any country on this list, frequently being deployed to handle civic
action programs like construction. They’re also sent abroad on peacekeeping
and humanitarian missions, and to protect the Amazon rainforest from hazards. Brazil’s military is growing fast - but
not quite as fast as the next country on the list. #9. Egypt Egypt has always been one of the most powerful
and modern countries in the Middle East, but their military didn’t always have the best
record. They were involved in four wars against the
new nation of Israel from the 1940s to the 1970s - and lost all four! But a 1978 peace treaty turned that page,
and since then Egypt has made the most of their military strength. With a state military organization under the
command of the President - who has been a military dictator for most of the last few
decades - they have four divisions ready for combat. An Army, Navy, and Air Force are joined by
a special Air Defense Forces designed to protect Egypt from air-based attacks. As the only Arab state with a reconnaissance
satellite, they’re considered to have a state-of-the-art military ready to repel any
sneak attacks. With a standing military of 468,000 and over
500,000 reserves, Egypt maintains a one to three-year conscription term for all men 18
to 49. They’re not hurting for manpower, but their
biggest advantage is their good diplomatic relations with the rest of the world. They used to rely on outdated Soviet weaponry
from their cold war alliance, but now they get the best hardware through deals with the
United States, the United Kingdom, and China. And they need it - the Middle East is a flashpoint,
and the Egyptian military has been key in hunting down and ending the threat of groups
like ISIS. Egypt’s army is rising fast, but the next
military on this list is one of the oldest - and still going strong. #8. United Kingdom Rule Britannia! The United Kingdom is no stranger to a strong
military, as they ruled much of the world at the height of the British empire. Sure, there was that unfortunate business
with the colonies, but the British Armed Forces came out on top in both World Wars, and the
military that’s been going strong since 1707 is advancing with the times. Composed of the Royal Navy, the British Army,
the Royal Marines, and the Royal Air Force, the British Armed Forces have about 150,000
active-duty members and 45,000 reserve members. One of the smallest militaries on the list,
but the United Kingdom is an entirely volunteer force. Their focus is on elite soldiers, not massive
manpower - and it’s not hard to see why when you see their hardware. A founding member of the NATO military alliance,
the British Armed Forces are on guard to step in should any member be invaded. With military bases around the world, their
Navy has 77 commissioned ships including destroyers and frigates. And while the British Armed Forces are mainly
a defensive force now, they are ready for another massive conflict - including a nuclear
one. Trident, the UK’s nuclear defense system,
has an arsenal of 120 usable warheads that can be launched either from bases or from
ships. The British Armed Forces aren’t the world’s
most powerful anymore, but the island nation is still well guarded. But they may just be looking enviously right
across the English Channel. 7. France Wait, France? The country known for fine wine and art museums
may not be first on everyone’s mind as a military powerhouse, but they actually have
the largest armed forces in the European Union. With 203,000 active duty members, this all-volunteer
military is divided into five divisions - the French Army, French Navy, French Air Force,
National Guard, and the National Gendarmerie, a national police force. All answer to the President of France, and
there are currently 11,000 French military personnel deployed worldwide. A charter member of NATO, the French military
is focused on national independence and self-sufficiency in the post-Cold War era - but that doesn’t
mean its military arsenal is to be trifled with. One of the five “Nuclear Weapons States”
under the initial non-proliferation treaty, France has had nuclear weapons since the 1950s. Believed to have up to 300 nuclear warheads
with 280 in usable condition, the French military focuses its nuclear arsenal on deterrence. The country rarely gets into military skirmishes
independently, but has helped allies in Europe and beyond in military operations. After the brutal occupation of France by Nazi
Germany during World War II, France has followed the advice of an American President - it speaks
softly and carries a big nuclear stick to deter future invasions. But the next country on the list is no stranger
to occupation and invasion either - and it’s always on a war footing. #6. South Korea When’s the last time you traveled to another
state or city? Imagine if the distance of that drive would
take you not to a nice day trip, but to a hostile enemy nation. That’s the situation South Korea has lived
in for decades ever since the Korean War ended. With the constant threat of attack or invasion
from North Korea lurking over their head, it’s not a surprise they have one of the
largest armed forces in the world - almost 600,000 active soldiers and 3 million reserve
members. As a country that has to be on a war footing
at all times, it’s no surprise that South Korea has universal conscription for all male
citizens, with everyone doing 18 to 22 months of service. With an Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine
Corps under the command of a Joint Chiefs of Staff, South Korea spends 2.7% of their
GDP on military spending. Despite a nuclear threat from their neighbors
to the north, South Korea has a strict policy of non-proliferation and has not developed
nuclear weapons - but that doesn’t mean their military isn’t to be feared. Thanks to a strong alliance with Japan, Israel,
and the United States, they have one of the most technologically advanced militaries and
their anti-missile technology is state-of-the-art. South Korea is a large army focused on one
constant threat, but their military is deployed in 13 countries around the world. The next country’s military might have a
dark history, but today’s Army looks very different. #5. Japan The newest military on this list, the Japan
Self-Defense Forces were formed in the aftermath of World War II. When Japan was defeated along with the rest
of the Axis powers, their military was disbanded. In 1954, they were allowed to found a new
Armed Forces based around self-defense and peacekeeping. Despite being one of the smallest armed forces
on the list at only 300,000 active personnel, their strength isn’t in numbers. They’re open to all residents 18-32 for
voluntary enlistment, but the reason they’re a top military power is because of their elite
technology. Divided between ground, maritime, and air
units, all are among the most state-of-the art forces in the world. Japan’s thriving technology sector specializes
in anti-ballistic missile deployment, amphibious technology to make it easier for soldiers
to function in the water, and an unarmed combat training system that makes every soldier an
elite fighter even when disarmed. Their technology and training make Japan a
highly sought-after ally, and they have tight military links to South Korea and the United
States. The growing threat of North Korea has made
some hawkish elements in Japan say the country should move towards a more aggressive stance,
but right now the Japan Self-Defense Forces are a powerhouse military content to stay
put, only aiding in peacekeeping missions. Japan is a small island nation, but the next
militaries on this list are protecting some of the biggest countries in the world. #4. India One of the fastest-growing countries in the
world, India is second in population and is wasting no time joining the world’s military
elites. They’re in a tricky military position, with
border conflicts aplenty - mostly with long-time rival Pakistan, which was partitioned from
them in the 1940s when they gained independence. But in recent years, China has also made aggressive
moves on Indian border areas, so it’s no surprise India’s standing army is large
and strong. With 1.4 million active duty personnel and
over two million reserves, it’s one of the largest non-conscripted militaries in the
world - and their military budget is the third-largest in the world. The Indian military is diversified, with a
traditional Army, Navy, and Military. But it also encompasses multiple paramilitary
divisions including a Coast Guard and specialized forces handling border and railway security. Their Navy has a fully equipped aircraft carrier
and a fleet of submarines, but the country’s biggest leap forward came when they officially
joined the nuclear weapons club. Both India and Pakistan are believed to have
over 150 nuclear weapons, keeping each other at bay long-term. But India’s nuclear deterrent may be aimed
at another neighbor as well. #3. China No country’s army is growing faster and
making more aggressive moves than the People’s Liberation Army of China. Divided into the Ground Force, Navy, Air Force,
Rocket Force, and Strategic Support Force, it’s the biggest active-duty military force
in the world with over two million active members and half a million reserves. And in case the world’s most populated country
needs more soldiers in a hurry, their universal conscription law has been in effect since
the days of Mao Zedong, but it hasn’t been enforced in decades. The army of the People’s Republic of China
is shrouded in secrecy, but their biggest weapon isn’t their manpower - it’s their
strategic warfare. China has gained a reputation for being the
most aggressive military for cyberwarfare, as a well-placed hacking attack can easily
destabilize a country or reveal its biggest secrets. They officially founded a cyber security squad
in 2011. Their satellites are among the most advanced
in the world, making them a major power as the race to space becomes the next military
frontier. While most of China’s military conflicts
in recent years have been border skirmishes, they’re well-equipped for a larger conflict
- with over 240 nuclear warheads in usable shape. China might be rising, but while the next
country’s biggest days are behind it, it shouldn’t be underestimated. #2. Russia At the height of the Cold War, Russia and
the United States were constantly boosting their military and weapons to try to keep
pace with the other. While that conflict has been on the back burner
for a long time, Russia remains one of the biggest military powers in the world. With 900,000 active military personnel and
two million reserves, it’s still one of the largest standing militaries - primarily
due to their strict conscription law, which requires every Russian male age 18-27 to serve
12 months in the services. At 3.9% of their GDP, Russia also has one
of the largest per capita spending of any country - and it shows in their massive arsenal. During the Cold War, Russia and the United
States kept each other at bay with mutually assured destruction - having such a powerful
arsenal of nuclear weapons that neither side could survive all-out war. Those weapons were never used, and Russia
now has over 6,000 nuclear weapons - although over 2,500 of them are no longer usable. Their Ground Forces, Aerospace Forces, and
Navy are backed up by multiple special and logistical divisions, and while Russia’s
technology and weapons may trend older, it hasn’t stopped them from aggressive moves
in Eastern Europe like the recent annexation of Crimea. But there’s one military they’ve never
been able to catch. #1. United States of America The Army. The Navy. The Marines. The Air Force. The Coast Guard. And we can’t forget the newest division
- Space Force. They come together into the United States
Armed Forces, a powerhouse military with 1.3 million active members and almost 900,000
reserve members. While the United States has had a draft during
many major wars, they’re an all-volunteer force for now - although it’s required for
all men 18-25 to register for Selective Service in case conscription is needed. The USA may not have the biggest army in the
world, but their spending of 721 billion annually puts them at #1 - and it shows in a massive
technologically advanced military that’s deployed around the world. Every division of the US military is the largest
of its kind in the world, and the country has 170,000 soldiers deployed worldwide in
peacetime. Stationed in over 100 countries, the military
is presided over by the Joint Chiefs of Staff under the command of the Commander in Chief
- the President. While the US is modernizing its military by
the year and shares technology with close allies like Japan, South Korea, and Israel,
a big part of its power is from the Cold War - its nuclear arsenal is over 6,000 warheads,
although more than a third are retired and awaiting dismantlement. The United States played a big role in both
World Wars, and it hasn’t surrendered its superpower status since. What would happen if the world’s two biggest
militaries went head to head? Check out “United States Vs. Russia - Who
Would Win? Military/Army Comparison” for all the details,
or check out this video instead.
