Germany launches its biggest military buildup since the Cold War -

As the Trump administration pursues a Ukraine peace deal that could favor Moscow over Kyiv, European nations are rethinking their defense strategies. Nowhere is this shift more evident than in Germany, where years of underinvestment in their army is coming to an end. Germany is making a historic push to strengthen its military, unlocking billions in funding at a critical moment for European security, as Chancellor Friedrich Merz has prioritized military spending on a scale not seen since the Cold War.

Germany has just reformed its constitutional debt brake, freeing up billions in funding. According to a model shared with CNN, if Germany commits 3.5% of its GDP over the next decade, military funding could reach €600 billion (about US$652 billion).

This gallery looks into the European countries with the strongest militaries, highlighting their readiness to navigate these growing geopolitical challenges.Click on for the top 30 countries.

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30. Ireland -

Ireland's military consists of 7,765 active personnel, operating 25 military aircraft, 1,064 military vehicles, and six navy ships and submarines. The Irish Defence Forces focus on peacekeeping missions and have participated in UN operations since 1958.

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29. Slovenia -

Slovenia's military has 7,300 active personnel, 38 aircraft, 1,502 vehicles, and two naval ships. A NATO member since 2004, it shifted to a professional military in 2003, focusing on modernization and peacekeeping.

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28. Albania -

Albania, once isolated under communist rule, has modernized its forces since joining NATO in 2009. Its military consists of 6,600 personnel, 19 aircraft, 976 vehicles, and 19 naval ships. 

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27. Lithuania -

The small Baltic nation Lithuania has 23,000 active military personnel, nine aircraft, 1,356 vehicles, and 11 naval ships. As a member of NATO since 2004, Lithuania plays a crucial role in regional security, particularly in deterring Russian aggression.

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26. Estonia -

Estonia, with 7,700 active military personnel, is known for its strong focus on cybersecurity, establishing the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre in 2008 and offering cyber defense training to its military personnel.

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25. Austria -

Austria has 16,000 active military personnel, 104 aircraft, and 848 military vehicles. Since its neutrality in 1955, Austria has focused on peacekeeping and humanitarian missions, with a defensive military structure.

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24. Belgium -

Belgium has 25,000 active military personnel, 110 aircraft, 4,606 military vehicles, and nine navy ships and submarines. The small nation was one of the founding members of NATO in 1949, reinforcing its commitment to collective defense and international security.

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23. Slovakia -

Slovakia has 19,500 active military personnel, 37 military aircraft, and 2,048 military vehicles. The country became a NATO member in 2004, enhancing its defense capabilities and regional security.

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22. Croatia -

Croatia has 14,325 active military personnel, 81 military aircraft, 3,076 military vehicles, and 32 navy ships and submarines. Following its independence in 1991, Croatia joined NATO in 2009, strengthening its defense capabilities within the alliance.

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21. Belarus -

Belarus has 63,000 active military personnel, 183 military aircraft, and 6,700 military vehicles. With strong historical ties to Russia, it serves as a key strategic ally, hosting Russian military bases.

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20. Bulgaria -

Bulgaria has 37,000 active military personnel, 65 military aircraft, and 7,420 military vehicles. A NATO member since 2004, Bulgaria has modernized its defense forces and contributes to international peacekeeping operations.

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19. Serbia -

Serbia has 25,000 active military personnel, 112 military aircraft, and 3,954 military vehicles. The Serbian military maintains a policy of neutrality.

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18. Hungary -

Hungary's military includes 41,600 active personnel, 62 aircraft, and 7,797 military vehicles. As a NATO member, the country continues to modernize its forces, investing in advanced tanks and fighter jets.

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17. Finland -

Finland has 24,000 active military personnel, 164 aircraft, 11,716 military vehicles, and 246 naval vessels. Known for its strong defense strategy, Finland maintains a well-trained reserve force of nearly 900,000 personnel, ensuring rapid mobilization if needed.

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16. Denmark -

As a NATO member, Denmark plays a key role in Arctic defense and maritime security, patrolling the North Atlantic and the Arctic Ocean. The Nordic nation has 20,000 active military personnel, 119 military aircraft, 4,056 military vehicles, and 91 navy ships. 

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15. Romania -

Romania has 81,300 active military personnel, 131 aircraft, 9,990 vehicles, and 20 navy ships. As a key NATO member, it strengthens regional security and hosts a NATO missile defense site in Deveselu.

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14. Czech Republic -

The Czech Republic has 28,000 active military personnel, 88 military aircraft, and 6,757 military vehicles. Historically, the country has been a key player in Central European defense, with its strategic location making it a vital part of NATO's security framework.

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13. Switzerland -

Switzerland has 101,584 active military personnel, 147 aircraft, and 4,304 vehicles. Known for its neutrality, the country maintains a strong defense with compulsory military service for Swiss men.

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12. Norway -

As a NATO member, Norway focuses on Arctic defense and maintaining high operational readiness. The Nordic nation has 23,250 active military personnel, 102 aircraft, 7,048 vehicles, and 25 navy ships and submarines. 

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11. Netherlands -

The Netherlands has 41,380 active military personnel, 143 aircraft, 3,176 military vehicles, and 112 navy ships and submarines. It plays a key role in NATO and has advanced capabilities in both air and naval defense.

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10. Portugal -

Portugal plays a crucial role in NATO defense initiatives, with a notable naval presence. The small nation has around 24,000 active military personnel, 117 military aircraft, 11,173 military vehicles, and 113 navy ships and submarines. 

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9. Greece -

Greece has a strong military presence, with a focus on maritime defense due to its strategic Mediterranean location. It has approximately 142,700 active personnel, 632 aircraft, 57,030 vehicles, and 187 naval vessels.

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8. Sweden -

Sweden, which joined NATO in 2024, maintains a strong military with 24,400 active personnel, 212 aircraft, 7,958 military vehicles, and 353 navy ships and submarines.

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7. Poland -

Poland has a long military history, with a significant role in World War II. Today, Poland boasts 202,100 active military personnel, 468 aircraft, 13,956 military vehicles, and 45 navy ships and submarines.

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6. Spain -

Spain has around 133,282 active personnel, 513 aircraft, 15,046 vehicles, and 168 naval ships. As a NATO ally, Spain plays a crucial role in European and global security, with a strong historical military presence.

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5. Germany -

As a NATO member, Germany plays a vital role in European defense. It has around 181,600 active military personnel, 618 aircraft, 79,317 vehicles, and 64 navy ships.

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4. Ukraine -

Amid the ongoing war with Russia, Ukraine's military has undergone significant modernization and expansion to defend its sovereignty. It has around 900,000 active military personnel, 321 aircraft, 22,110 vehicles, and 104 navy ships.

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3. France -

France has 200,000 active military personnel, 972 aircraft, 85,023 vehicles, and 128 navy ships. As a nuclear power, it remains a key player in global defense, especially amidst European geopolitical tensions.

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2. Italy -

Italy has 165,500 active military personnel, 800 aircraft, 61,892 military vehicles, and 309 navy ships. With a rich military history, Italy plays a key role in NATO and global peacekeeping missions.

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1. United Kingdom -

The UK boasts around 184,860 active military personnel, 664 military aircraft, 27,203 military vehicles, and 117 navy ships and submarines. A major NATO member, the UK has a long history of global military influence, particularly during both World Wars.

Sources: (Global Fire Power) (24/7 Wall St.)

See also: What you might not know about NATO

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