Middle East militaries are among the most powerful in the world, according to the latest ranking by Global Fire Power.
The ranking measured 40 components to determine the 69 countries' military prowess, such as defense budgets, logistical support, total populations, and strength of each country's air, maritime and land forces.
"The factors are set within our algorithm, which provides a fair canvas and allows smaller, technologically advanced nations to compete with larger, lesser-developed ones," said the GFP in its survey.
"Additionally, various bonuses and penalties are added for refinement. In the end, we hope it presents an unbiased ranking and realistic outlook on the potential conventional military firepower and strength of a given country for a given year."
Israel (ranked 13th) and Iran (16th), currently at loggerheads with each other over the latter's nuclear program, are two of the Middle East's most powerful militaries, according to the ranking.
Their closely matched military might suggests that an unfortunate war between the two would most likely lead to a bloody stalemate.
The Israelis spent USD 15.2 billion on their defense budget alone last year, while Iran spent USD10-billion and has resorted to local development and production of weapons due to the heavy sanctions on the country.
The Egyptian military, currently ranked 15th, also has one of the largest militaries in the African continent and the Arab World, with active frontline personnel of 468,500.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia was ranked only 27th, despite the USD 46.2 billion it reportedly spent on its defense budget last year. Interestingly, Saudi Arabia accounted for 3% of the world's global arms imports, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
Algeria, ranked 38th, reportedly spent USD 8.2 billion last year on defense, and was the venue of a dramatic terrorist incident at a gas plant site owned by BP Plc. earlier this year. Algeria also has the dubious distinction of accounting for 4% of all major arms imports - the highest in the Middle East.
MILITARY SPENDING ON THE RISE
Syria, which is in the midst of a bloody civil war that has torn the country apart, allocated USD 2.5 billion last year, according to GFP data, as it tried to stamp out a massive armed rebellion against the regime. The Syrian government can draw upon 304,000 active frontline personnel.
Yemen, which is in precarious situation after emerging from its own civil war, has the largest standing army in the Gulf at 405,000, and is ranked 43rd in the world.
Jordan could only allocate USD 1.3 billion to its defense budget at a time of great upheaval in its surrounding region. A war raging in Syria and Israel, Palestine and Lebanon getting restless has hurt Jordan's economic prospects, and even shaken the regime itself.
The UAE has the highest per capita spending in the world on defense, according to GFP, with USD 15 billion allocated last year, with a ranking of 57th. The UAE possesses a small army, but is making up for it by accounting for 3% of global military imports, SIPRI notes.
A string of wars has left Iraq's military ravaged and in need of a complete overhaul. The government spent USD 5.6 billion on defense last year, at a time when the country needs to invest every precious dollar in the country's various infrastructure programs.
Despite the beleaguered forces, the Iraqi government can still call upon 276,660 army personnel, a far cry from the heady days when Iraq's military was one of the most feared in the region.
Libya's military is ranked 59th and appears to have been decimated after a bloody civil war. While the government spent a mere USD 880 million on defense last year, Libya is now home to a number of armed warlords and commanders that patrol the country and remains largely outside the control of the government. Millions of weapons are unaccounted for leading to a desperately worrying security issue in the country.
Kuwait spent just over USD 5 billion on defense last year, and is ranked 63rd globally.
Qatar may have been ranked 65th in terms of its military prowess, but it is punching above its weight after directly intervening in the Libyan war, and funding Syrian opposition groups.
"Military spending in the Middle East rose by 8.4% rise in 2012," according to SIPRI in a report published earlier this year. "The largest percentage increase worldwide in 2012 was by Oman (a 51% rise). Saudi Arabia also increased spending by 12%. Spending by Iran, Qatar, Syria and the UAE is unknown."
Meanwhile, military spending rose sharply across North Africa, by 7.8% in real terms, as the government took steps to upgrade their military hardware on concerns over terrorist groups in the Sahel, SIPRI noted
GLOBAL RACE
While MENA countries stepped up investment, global military expenditure actually fell half a percent in real terms to reach USD 1.75 trillion in 2012.
Much of the decline was driven by the United States as it tapers off its military activities in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Still, the US remains the world's most powerful military force and is ranked 1st by GFP.
Russia, which expanded military spending by 16% last year, was ranked second, while China was third, ranking shows.
© alifarabia.com 2013
