Germany plans major military expansion

30. Ireland

30. Ireland, 28. Albania, 26. Estonia, 24. Belgium, 22. Croatia, 20. Bulgaria, 18. Hungary, 16. Denmark, 14. Czech Republic, 12. Norway, 10. Portugal, 8. Sweden, 6. Spain, 4. Ukraine, 2. Italy

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.

28. Albania

30. Ireland, 28. Albania, 26. Estonia, 24. Belgium, 22. Croatia, 20. Bulgaria, 18. Hungary, 16. Denmark, 14. Czech Republic, 12. Norway, 10. Portugal, 8. Sweden, 6. Spain, 4. Ukraine, 2. Italy

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. 

26. Estonia

30. Ireland, 28. Albania, 26. Estonia, 24. Belgium, 22. Croatia, 20. Bulgaria, 18. Hungary, 16. Denmark, 14. Czech Republic, 12. Norway, 10. Portugal, 8. Sweden, 6. Spain, 4. Ukraine, 2. Italy

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.

24. Belgium

30. Ireland, 28. Albania, 26. Estonia, 24. Belgium, 22. Croatia, 20. Bulgaria, 18. Hungary, 16. Denmark, 14. Czech Republic, 12. Norway, 10. Portugal, 8. Sweden, 6. Spain, 4. Ukraine, 2. Italy

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.

22. Croatia

30. Ireland, 28. Albania, 26. Estonia, 24. Belgium, 22. Croatia, 20. Bulgaria, 18. Hungary, 16. Denmark, 14. Czech Republic, 12. Norway, 10. Portugal, 8. Sweden, 6. Spain, 4. Ukraine, 2. Italy

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.

20. Bulgaria

30. Ireland, 28. Albania, 26. Estonia, 24. Belgium, 22. Croatia, 20. Bulgaria, 18. Hungary, 16. Denmark, 14. Czech Republic, 12. Norway, 10. Portugal, 8. Sweden, 6. Spain, 4. Ukraine, 2. Italy

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.

18. Hungary

30. Ireland, 28. Albania, 26. Estonia, 24. Belgium, 22. Croatia, 20. Bulgaria, 18. Hungary, 16. Denmark, 14. Czech Republic, 12. Norway, 10. Portugal, 8. Sweden, 6. Spain, 4. Ukraine, 2. Italy

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.

16. Denmark

30. Ireland, 28. Albania, 26. Estonia, 24. Belgium, 22. Croatia, 20. Bulgaria, 18. Hungary, 16. Denmark, 14. Czech Republic, 12. Norway, 10. Portugal, 8. Sweden, 6. Spain, 4. Ukraine, 2. Italy

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. 

14. Czech Republic

30. Ireland, 28. Albania, 26. Estonia, 24. Belgium, 22. Croatia, 20. Bulgaria, 18. Hungary, 16. Denmark, 14. Czech Republic, 12. Norway, 10. Portugal, 8. Sweden, 6. Spain, 4. Ukraine, 2. Italy

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.

12. Norway

30. Ireland, 28. Albania, 26. Estonia, 24. Belgium, 22. Croatia, 20. Bulgaria, 18. Hungary, 16. Denmark, 14. Czech Republic, 12. Norway, 10. Portugal, 8. Sweden, 6. Spain, 4. Ukraine, 2. Italy

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. 

10. Portugal

30. Ireland, 28. Albania, 26. Estonia, 24. Belgium, 22. Croatia, 20. Bulgaria, 18. Hungary, 16. Denmark, 14. Czech Republic, 12. Norway, 10. Portugal, 8. Sweden, 6. Spain, 4. Ukraine, 2. Italy

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. 

8. Sweden

30. Ireland, 28. Albania, 26. Estonia, 24. Belgium, 22. Croatia, 20. Bulgaria, 18. Hungary, 16. Denmark, 14. Czech Republic, 12. Norway, 10. Portugal, 8. Sweden, 6. Spain, 4. Ukraine, 2. Italy

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.

6. Spain

30. Ireland, 28. Albania, 26. Estonia, 24. Belgium, 22. Croatia, 20. Bulgaria, 18. Hungary, 16. Denmark, 14. Czech Republic, 12. Norway, 10. Portugal, 8. Sweden, 6. Spain, 4. Ukraine, 2. Italy

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.

4. Ukraine

30. Ireland, 28. Albania, 26. Estonia, 24. Belgium, 22. Croatia, 20. Bulgaria, 18. Hungary, 16. Denmark, 14. Czech Republic, 12. Norway, 10. Portugal, 8. Sweden, 6. Spain, 4. Ukraine, 2. Italy

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.

2. Italy

30. Ireland, 28. Albania, 26. Estonia, 24. Belgium, 22. Croatia, 20. Bulgaria, 18. Hungary, 16. Denmark, 14. Czech Republic, 12. Norway, 10. Portugal, 8. Sweden, 6. Spain, 4. Ukraine, 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.