how strong is nato

NATO is very strong militarily, significantly outmatching its primary adversary Russia in terms of manpower, equipment, technology, and spending. As of 2025, NATO's combined forces include about 3.44 million active soldiers compared to Russia's approximately 1.32 million. NATO also has a major edge in aircraft (22,377 to Russia's 4,292), military ships (1,143 to 419), tanks (11,495 to 5,750), and armored vehicles (971,280 to 131,527). In terms of nuclear capabilities, the United States, United Kingdom, and France collectively possess about 5,559 warheads, nearly matching Russia's 5,580. NATO's defense spending is massive, with the U.S. alone spending around $916 billion annually, nearly 40% of global military expenditure, and the alliance aiming for 5% of GDP spending on defense by 2035. NATO's strength also lies in its integrated command structure, technological superiority, interoperability of forces, and collective defense principle (Article 5), where an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. The alliance has been reinforced by new members Finland and Sweden since the Ukraine conflict began, further strengthening its posture. While Russia is rapidly increasing production and military recruitment, Russia remains decisively outnumbered and outgunned by NATO's combined capabilities. Thus, NATO is considered militarily formidable and well-prepared to counter current and near-future threats, with a strong emphasis on deterrence and collective security.