How Turkey's military might measures up to US' - A comparative analysis

With US President Donald Trump threatening Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in an extraordinary letter sent days after Turkey launched its incursion into northeastern Syria, here’s a comparison of the military powers of both the countries

The Trump administration imposed sanctions on Turkey even as its military forces continued their push into northern Syria, increasing steel tariffs back to 50 per cent, the level prior to the reduction in May.

“The US will also immediately stop negotiations being led by the Department of Commerce with respect to $100 billion in trade deal with Turkey," the US president declared.

Turkey, a NATO ally began its military campaign in northern Syria last week after President Trump announced that he would be pulling US troops out of the area. The resulting military offensive took several nations by surprise with France, Germany and other NATO nations calling for restraint

The Turkish Armed Forces are the second largest standing military force in NATO, after the US Armed Forces with estimated active military personnel of 6,85,862.

With a Military budget of $18.2 billion, Turkey spent 2.2 per cent of its GDP on defence in the year 2018. The United States on the other hand spent $610 billion that is 3.1 per cent of its GDP in the same year. 

Here’s a comparison of the military powers of both the countries.