QUESTION: Mr. Armstrong, I think you have forgotten more than these people here in Warsaw ever knew. NATO says it is ready to fight tonight, claiming it has 3.65 million active troops against Russia’s 1.32 million. I asked a question, and they ignored it. Isn’t 50% of that including the USA and Turkey? I’m sure you know the real facts given your contacts. Would you care to comment?
FJ
ANSWER: You are absolutely correct. NATO is by no means as strong as they claim. The United States maintains roughly 1.3 million active-duty personnel. This means the U.S. alone accounts for about 36% of NATO’s entire active military manpower. Then add Turkey’s 395,800 active troops. All of this is also based on conventional ignoring nuclear.
So when you see them claiming 3.65 million active troops, it is the sum of all 32 members, with the U.S. providing the single largest block by a wide margin.
Poland: 263,600
France: 202,000
Germany: 183,200
Italy: 191,600
Without the United States and Turkey, Europe is close to 50% of active troops compared to Russia.
These warmongering Neocons only look at what they want to believe. They never take into account that they have (1) destroyed the world economy dividing it between SWIFT vs. CHIPS, but that means there is no way this will every reverse. They demonize Russia so much, stole their money, and made it clear they will NEVER be accepted back in trade ever again, so why would you think that nukes are off the table? They have set the very reason why nuclear war can no longer be off the table. There is nothing to go back to, so why should Russia care if Europe still exists? They seem to be advocating their own demise. They have made it absolutely clear they are NOT interested in any peaceful co-existence with Russia ever again. They are now permanent enemies. That is why Rome destroyed Carthage.
The counting of the US and Turkey trrops among their ranks is bravado. NATO is not compulsory, it is voluntary. That means that they do NOT have absolute control over 3.65 million troops. The bias is exposed when you look closer. They count the entire West, but only Russia in isolation. China and North Korea will join defending Russia and if the US did enter, so would Iran. If we look at the largest army in the world, China maintains around 2.03 million troops across multiple 2026 sources. North Korea possesses one of the most militarized forces globally, with estimates ranging from 1.28 million to 1.32 million active personnel. This represents a very high percentage of its total population—roughly 5%—making it one of the most heavily militarized states in the world .
So, let’s take the 3.65 million claim of NATO and compare to the combined opposition, not just Russia since they combine the West, and what we end up with 4.6 million. Any historian knows that there have been countless battles won even when seriously outnumbered.
Julius Caesar won the Battle of Alesia (52 BC) with an army of roughly 50,000–60,000 men facing the Gallic force of about 80,000 inside the fortress of Alesia. He was then attacked from the outside by a massive relief army estimated at 250,000 warriors. Caesar was effectively outnumbered 6:1 when combining the besieged garrison and the relief force.
Then at the Battle of Pharsalus (48 BC) against Pompey, Caesar was significantly outnumbered. His forces totaled around 22,000–30,000 infantry, while Pompey commanded roughly 45,000–47,000. Pompey also had a massive cavalry advantage (roughly 7,000 vs. Caesar’s 1,000). Caesar concealed a fourth line of elite legionaries behind his cavalry. When Pompey’s cavalry attempted to outflank him, the hidden infantry attacked with their javelins like pikemen, routing the enemy cavalry and winning the battle.
So NATO can pound its chest all it wants to put on a show to make sure Europe hands them more money. But any military historian knows that is a dog and pony show. It has no basis in reality or history.