1. Military & Defense Capability
-
According to Global Firepower, the United States ranks #1 in 2025 with a PowerIndex score of about 0.0744, while Russia comes in #2 with a score of 0.0788. Lower is better in that index.
-
In terms of manpower, the U.S. has a significant advantage: about 341.96 million total population vs. Russia’s 140.82 million, and far more people fit for service.
-
Active personnel are similar in number (around 1.33 million for the U.S. vs 1.32 million for Russia), but the U.S. has more reserves and overall support infrastructure.
-
Air power, aircraft fleets, transport and logistical assets heavily favor the U.S. Russia has strengths in land-based heavy equipment (tanks, artillery, MLRS) and maintains nuclear strategic forces.
2. Economic Strength & Military Spending
-
The U.S. defense budget is vastly larger: in 2024, $997 billion spent, making up a large portion of global military spending. Russia’s military spending is estimated around $149 billion, which is substantial but far behind.
-
Regarding Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) and overall economy: the U.S. economy is far larger in PPP, foreign reserves, industrial capacity, and global trade ties. Russia has important natural resources (especially energy) but is more constrained in economic diversity and global financial influence.
3. Nuclear & Strategic Capabilities
-
Russia and the U.S. together hold around 87% of the world’s nuclear warheads, with Russia having a slightly bigger total stockpile. Both maintain deployed strategic warheads, nuclear-capable submarines, bombers, and missile systems.
-
Both countries are enhancing missile defense or nuclear shield systems in 2025. Russia is calling for updates due to “colossal threats,” while the U.S. has defense initiatives such as missile shield plans.
4. Weaknesses & Challenges
-
Russia faces sanctions, economic pressure, and high military attrition especially in ongoing conflicts (e.g. Ukraine). Its industrial strength is impressive in certain military production areas, but costs, logistics, and maintenance under wartime conditions are heavy burdens.
-
United States faces challenges too: the sheer cost of maintaining global military presence, inflation, geopolitical overextension, internal political debates about defense spending, and balancing alliances. Economic inequalities and supply-chain vulnerabilities could also be stress points.
Conclusion
While Russia remains a formidable military power with potent strategic (especially nuclear) capabilities, the United States continues to lead overall in terms of combined strengths — military, economic, technology, global alliances, and logistics. In a direct conventional conflict, the U.S. retains significant advantages. However, war, especially modern geopolitical conflict, doesn’t depend only on raw numbers — diplomacy, intelligence, technology, alliances, and willpower also matter immensely.
