[BroJoeK]

"Misleading, as the EU doesn’t set the defence expenditure for the nations in the bloc. That is the EU average. There are nations who far exceed that figure, and other nations that fall below it too."

True. If we look at military spending % of GDP, of the top five European countries, including NATO member Turkey:

• France -- 3.5%
• UK -- 3.3%
• Germany -- 1.6%
• Italy -- 2.2%
• Turkey -- 2.8%

The total of these five comes to $256 billion, compared to Russia's $43 billion.

Of course, we can't say what those countries are actually getting for all that money, (might be nothing more than social welfare dressed up in uniforms!). But it looks serious enough to give Russia pause.

Finally, for perspective, US military spending pre-War On Terror was about the same % as France & UK now, but these days up to 4.3%.

[Mercia]

Good statistics. I can only speak for the uk, but we are certainly getting lots of lovely new kit for the Armed Forces. 3.3% of GDP well spent I’d say.

Galling though that the French are seemingly spending more than us?!!!

Then again, they need to get their stuff up to scratch.