The MIDDLE EAST is home to 10 NATIONS with SIGNIFICANT ARMORED MILITARY Capabilities.
1. EGYPT
- Total number of tanks: 3,620
- Total count of artillery (self-propelled and towed): 2,018
- Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 528
- Total military vehicles currently in active service: 41,012
- Active-duty military personnel: 440,000
- Military defense budget: $5,879,500,000 – 46. out of 145
- Military strength score and world rank: 0.3427 – 19. out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, Egypt has 1,093 military aircraft (including 90 attack aircraft, 238 fighter aircraft, and 348 helicopters). Egypt has 440,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 111.25 million.
Egypt straddles the Middle East and Africa and controls the Suez Canal, a key shipping lane on the global stage. From the days of the Pharaohs to the present, Egypt has been a regional military power. However, more recently, its military relies less on swords and horses but instead on its massive arsenal of advanced aircraft and tanks.
2. PAKISTAN
- Total number of tanks: 2,627
- Total count of artillery (self-propelled and towed): 3,291
- Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 600
- Total military vehicles currently in active service: 17,516
- Active-duty military personnel: 654,000
- Military defense budget: $7,640,000,000 – 38. out of 145
- Military strength score and world rank: 0.2513 – 12. out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, Pakistan has 1,399 military aircraft (including 90 attack aircraft, 328 fighter aircraft, and 373 helicopters). Pakistan has 654,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 252.36 million.
Pakistan’s military history began with its formation in 1947, following its separation from India. This division would continue to be the source of animosity even in contemporary times. The first Indo-Pakistani War was fought over Kashmir, with more wars following in 1965 and 1971. The 1971 war ended in a major defeat for Pakistan and led to the creation of Bangladesh. Pakistan also played a role in the Soviet Afghan War, supporting mujahideen fighters with U.S. and Saudi backing. Today, Pakistan maintains one of the world’s top 10 most powerful militaries.
3. TURKEY
- Total number of tanks: 2,238
- Total count of artillery (self-propelled and towed): 2,745
- Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 296
- Total military vehicles currently in active service: 61,173
- Active-duty military personnel: 355,200
- Military defense budget: $47,000,000,000 – 13. out of 145
- Military strength score and world rank: 0.1902 – 9. out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, Turkey has 1,083 military aircraft (including 201 fighter aircraft and 508 helicopters). Turkey has 355,200 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 84.12 million.
Turkey’s military history is deeply rooted in its legacy as the heart of the Ottoman Empire. Its strategic position between Europe and Asia has largely dictated the composition of its forces and helped to secure its place in NATO. The fall of the Ottoman Empire after World War I and the Turkish War of Independence gave shape to the nation and its borders.
4. IRAN
- Total number of tanks: 1,713
- Total count of artillery (self propelled and towed): 2,462
- Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 1,517
- Total military vehicles currently in active service: 65,825
- Active duty military personnel: 610,000
- Military defense budget: $15,450,000,000 – 25. out of 145
- Military strength score and world rank: 0.3048 – 16. out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, Iran has 551 military aircraft (including 21 attack aircraft, 188 fighter aircraft, and 128 helicopters). Iran has 610,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 88.39 million.
Iran’s military roots stretch back to the ancient Persian Empire, giving it a long and rich history. Today, it’s viewed by many Western powers as a regional antagonist, leading to sanctions that have hindered its military modernization. Despite these constraints, Iran maintains a formidable military with a seemingly endless supply of rockets and artillery. Iran’s recent conflict with Israel proved the resolve of its military and that it will not so easily be defeated.
5. JORDAN
- Total number of tanks: 1,458
- Total count of artillery (self propelled and towed): 438
- Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 56
- Total military vehicles currently in active service: 16,624
- Active duty military personnel: 100,500
- Military defense budget: $2,500,000,000 – 65. out of 145
- Military strength score and world rank: 1.6139 – 76. out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, Jordan has 274 military aircraft (including 6 attack aircraft, 44 fighter aircraft, and 155 helicopters). Jordan has 100,500 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 11.17 million.
Jordan, like many other of these Middle Eastern nations, has a rich military history. The Hashemite Kingdom was formed after World War I from the remnants of the Ottoman Empire and gained full independence from Britain in 1946. Jordan fought in a few conflicts with Israel, including the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and the 1967 Six-Day War, where it lost the West Bank. These wars would define its modern borders and military posture. Today, Jordan maintains strong ties with Western powers, supports military modernization, and plays a stabilizing role in the region, having served as a mediator in peace talks.
6. ISRAEL
- Total number of tanks: 1,300
- Total count of artillery (self propelled and towed): 523
- Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 183
- Total military vehicles currently in active service: 35,985
- Active duty military personnel: 170,000
- Military defense budget: $30,500,000,000 – 17. out of 145
- Military strength score and world rank: 0.2661 – 15. out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, Israel has 611 military aircraft (including 38 attack aircraft, 240 fighter aircraft, and 147 helicopters). Israel has 170,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 9.403 million.
Israel’s military history is central to its national identity, reinforced by compulsory service for most citizens. Founded in 1948, Israel was immediately thrust into war with neighboring Arab states. Since then, it has remained at the heart of regional conflict, even continuing to this day. Key wars include the Suez Crisis, Six-Day War, and Yom Kippur War, along with repeated clashes in Lebanon. In many of these, Israel not only survived but expanded its territory. Its most recent conflict with Iran has raised more questions than it has answered, and the fallout of this is still yet to be seen in its entirety.
7. IRAQ
- Total number of tanks: 1,025
- Total count of artillery (self propelled and towed): 1044
- Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 572
- Total military vehicles currently in active service: 37,288
- Active duty military personnel: 193,000
- Military defense budget: $7,923,000,000 – 37. out of 145
- Military strength score and world rank: 0.7738 – 43. out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, Iraq has 391 military aircraft (including 36 attack aircraft, 26 fighter aircraft, and 197 helicopters). Iraq has 193,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 42.08 million.
Iraq gained independence from Britain in 1932 but remained under its influence until the late 1950s. Saddam Hussein came to power in 1979 under the Ba’ath Party, further expanding the Iraqi military and launching the Iran-Iraq War just a year later.. His 1990 invasion of Kuwait instigated the Gulf War, and later a U.S.-led invasion in 2003 ultimately leading to his demise. Currently, Iraq is focused on rebuilding its military while addressing ongoing internal security challenges.
8. SAUDI ARABIA
- Total number of tanks: 840
- Total count of artillery (self propelled and towed): 799
- Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 321
- Total military vehicles currently in active service: 19,040
- Active duty military personnel: 257,000
- Military defense budget: $74,760,000,000 – 5. out of 145
- Military strength score and world rank: 0.4201 – 25. out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, Saudi Arabia has 917 military aircraft (including 81 attack aircraft, 283 fighter aircraft, and 264 helicopters). Saudi Arabia has 257,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 36.54 million.
Saudi Arabia’s military history goes back centuries, but its modern state was officially founded in 1932 after Ibn Saud unified the region. The discovery of oil in the 1930s elevated the Kingdom’s global standing, especially with its lucrative trade with Western powers. This wealth enabled Saudi Arabia to acquire advanced weaponry and aircraft, solidifying its position as a dominant regional power. The country also played a key role in the Gulf War, joining the coalition to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait.
9. KUWAIT
- Total number of tanks: 367
- Total count of artillery (self propelled and towed): 74
- Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 27
- Total military vehicles currently in active service: 5,636
- Active duty military personnel: 72,000
- Military defense budget: $6,950,000,000 – 41. out of 145
- Military strength score and world rank: 1.6982 – 79. out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, Kuwait has 128 military aircraft (including 43 fighter aircraft and 67 helicopters). Kuwait has 72,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 3.138 million.
Kuwait’s strategic location at the northern edge of the Persian Gulf has long shaped its military history. This nation was once under Ottoman rule, but it became a British protectorate before gaining independence in 1961. The most defining chapter came in 1990, when Iraq invaded Kuwait over oil disputes and debt, leading to the Gulf War. An international coalition intervened to liberate the country. The invasion showed Kuwait’s vulnerability and reinforced its need for strong defense partnerships, particularly with Western allies.
10. SYRIA
- Total number of tanks: 365
- Total count of artillery (self propelled and towed): 731
- Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 204
- Total military vehicles currently in active service: 11,148
- Active duty military personnel: 170,000
- Military defense budget: $291,850,000 – 124. out of 145
- Military strength score and world rank: 1.2771 – 64. out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, Syria has 207 military aircraft (including 9 attack aircraft, 104 fighter aircraft, and 77 helicopters). Syria has 170,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 23.87 million.
Shaped largely by its strategic location bridging the Mediterranean and the Arab world, Syria has been a focal point of empires and modern conflicts alike down through the ages. After gaining independence from France in 1946, Syria became involved in multiple wars with Israel and played a role in the Lebanese Civil War. Its most defining recent conflict began in 2011 with the Syrian Civil War, sparked by Arab Spring protests.
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The URGENT NEED for PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE Between the USA and CHINA.
As Political Scientist Francisco Urdinez shows in a forthcoming BOOK, “Economic Displacement and the End of US Primacy in Latin America.”
“ONE KEY REASON CHINESE companies have MOVED INTO LATIN AMERICA is because U.S. BUSINESS HAS BEEN MOVING OUT. The policy of attempting to exclude China from Latin America HAS FAILED and is bound TO CONTINUE TO FAIL, because the region NEEDS foreign trade and investment, NOT LESS. The United States should compete with China in the Americas, proving that it can build a better mousetrap, not by banning rival producers of mice-catching devices.”
GUYANA >>> Onward & Upward towards, One People, One Nation, One Destiny.
REMEMBER >>> We are ALL Connected.
