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Could NATO Win a War Against China and Russia?
The question of whether NATO could win a war against China and Russia depends on many factors, including the size and capabilities of each country’s military, their respective defensive budgets, and the theatre in which a hypothetical conflict would take place. So let's dive into these variables.
In 2020, China’s military budget was $261 billion, while Russia’s was $65 billion. In comparison, the combined military budgets of all NATO member countries was approximately $900 billion. However, it’s worth noting that the U.S. alone, which is a member of NATO, has a military budget of $740.5 billion.
When it comes to personnel, China and Russia both have much larger populations than NATO countries. China has a population of over 1.4 billion people, while Russia has a population of 144 million. In comparison, the combined population of all NATO member countries is approximately 740 million.
In terms of military capabilities, both China and Russia have advanced weapons systems and well-trained militaries. China is particularly known for its large number of tanks, artillery, and naval vessels, while Russia is known for its advanced air defence systems and long-range missiles. However, NATO member countries, particularly the United States, have advanced technology in areas such as stealth aircraft, precision-guided munitions, and cyber warfare.
NATO’s strength lies in its ability to project military power globally, with a well-established logistics and supply chain, and a network of bases and allies around the world, including in the Asia-Pacific region. These bases are incredibly valuable in a global conflict. It means they can attack pretty much any place on earth with little to no warning. It also means they can defend from multiple directions by scrambling jets.
In terms of theatre-specific capabilities, China has an advantage in its home waters, the Western Pacific, with a growing blue-water navy, and a large number of coastal defense missiles. Russia was thought to have an advantage in Eastern Europe and the Arctic, with a large number of well-trained troops and advanced air defence systems. But this has been shown to be false with the Ukrainian war. Russia’s army is vastly inflated. Corruption has eaten away at the former soviet superpower, and…
