New data from the Global Firepower index ranks the military power of Western Balkan countries and Croatia, revealing significant differences in the region's defense capabilities.

Croatia is ranked highest among the countries in the region, thanks to its NATO membership and significant investments in modernizing its armed forces. Serbia follows with the largest army by numbers in the Western Balkans.

Macedonia, as a NATO member since 2020, continues to modernize its defense capabilities, although it remains behind larger neighbors in terms of budget. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Albania round out the rankings.

The comparison comes at a time of heightened global security tensions, where regional military power is gaining new importance in the context of Middle Eastern conflicts and the ongoing war in Ukraine.