What is the greatest Middle Eastern military power?

[Jlaw]

Do you believe the balance of power will change in 15 years say? And does China have any interest in the Middle East from a military or political POV?

I think the USA will still be a world superpower in 15 years but will not be as dominant as now. China would have finish modernizing their military by that time. The US will have a very hard time trying to pivot China in SCS by that time.
As for middle east, China has very little military motive on Mideast, but more economic interest from the Mideast for oil, selling arms, etc. Their only concern is for stability since the contracts signed with current regimes will be useless if the regime should change.

This could change if the US can be coax into a war with Iran by Israel . The hawks with Israeli lobbying wanted to invade Iran since 2012, but after careful consideration they realize Iran may not be a pushover like Iraq or Afghanistan. This may change in the future of course, but the USA is more careful now. A miscalculated war with Iran can be disastrous for their economy.

 

[That Guy]

Israel by a long shot, while I do question just how powerful Israel truly is, there is no denying that it still holds the most power in the middle east. Not to mention that it has a trump card that pretty much guarantees it's existence.

 

[LeveragedBuyout]

I will try using this. Assume you have super human abilities, like Superman. You can defeat all the combine world's military . You tell the world your currency, the LBO is the new world reserve currency with your mug on the new fiat currency. Who is going to say no to you? You will destroy and change regimes on countries who will not use your currency.

In summary, it primarily boils down to who has the greatest military in the world.

It's the other way around: all military power flows from economic power. It has always been thus: Rome and China, then Italy, Spain and Portugal, Great Britain and Germany, and more recently, the US. Soon, China will assume the throne. But that is because China wisely built up its economy first (Deng Xiaoping's reforms through the "peaceful rise"). Germany tried your way (economic hegemony through military force) and failed, twice. The Roman Empire collapsed when its military conquests could not be sustained economically. The British Empire collapsed under the debt incurred as a result of the constant need to protect its far-flung colonies using military power. As much as it pains me to acknowledge, my own country is taking its turn in the same cycle.

By the time I am dead, I guarantee China will be learning this lesson again. The SCS is just the beginning. Woe to the Chinese leadership that forgets that it was economic power that made it the great power it is today, and throws it away on military adventurism.

 

[Jlaw]

It's the other way around: all military power flows from economic power. It has always been thus: Rome and China, then Italy, Spain and Portugal, Great Britain and Germany, and more recently, the US. Soon, China will assume the throne. But that is because China wisely built up its economy first (Deng Xiaoping's reforms through the "peaceful rise"). Germany tried your way (economic hegemony through military force) and failed, twice. The Roman Empire collapsed when its military conquests could not be sustained economically. The British Empire collapsed under the debt incurred as a result of the constant need to protect its far-flung colonies using military power. As much as it pains me to acknowledge, my own country is taking its turn in the same cycle.

By the time I am dead, I guarantee China will be learning this lesson again. The SCS is just the beginning. Woe to the Chinese leadership that forgets that it was economic power that made it the great power it is today, and throws it away on military adventurism.

There is a correlation, but not entirely true. Qing dynasty was weathy but did not wisely use their money on upgrading and modernizing their military. The rest is history.

Russia spent too much on military without a strong economy and manufacturing base, accelerated by traitors like Gorbachev and others that caused the collapse of the SU.

US also spend way too much on its military but it can get away with it because of its strong economy and USD as reserve currency. China's military spending is very low compare to its GDP. Many Chinese members will agree on this. China should increase its military spending.

As for Rome, There were other major factors that contributed to the collapse of Rome, not just the economy, to put it loosely.

 

[Mahmoud_EGY]

Any country that can defeat the American military will be the new reserve currency.

what about the impact when the USD is no longer the reserve currency in the world all countries have most if not all their reserves in USD it would effect international trade and every nation in the plant and which currency do you think will replace ?

As for Rome, There were other major factors that contributed to the collapse of Rome, not just the economy, to put it loosely.

some people say they have gone soft and had no heart for war just like the US today

 

[Jlaw]

what about the impact when the USD is no longer the reserve currency in the world all countries have most if not all their reserves in USD it would effect international trade and every nation in the plant and which currency do you think will replace ?

I don't know if there will be the next reserve currency, but most likely in the future, should the USD reserve is no longer required for international trade, a country's currency may need to be backed by collateral, ie gold and silver.

 

[Falcon29]

what about the impact when the USD is no longer the reserve currency in the world all countries have most if not all their reserves in USD it would effect international trade and every nation in the plant and which currency do you think will replace ?


some people say they have gone soft and had no heart for war just like the US today

The problem with us Arabs is we're anticipating things to fall into place. We need to have the mindset that all odds are against us and we must advance in every way we can. Every minute should be valuable to us. We can achieve our goals if we want to. The problem is that we literally don't want to achieve our goals or don't bother doing so. Once you and I and our brother really want it from our hearts it will happen. We don't need to be this hopeless.

 

[SrNair]

I can vote for Israel.
They has nuclear weapons.Their Israel lobby is almost controlling large banks and arms companies.

 

[LeveragedBuyout]

There is a correlation, but not entirely true. Qing dynasty was weathy but did not wisely use their money on upgrading and modernizing their military. The rest is history.

Russia spent too much on military without a strong economy and manufacturing base, accelerated by traitors like Gorbachev and others that caused the collapse of the SU.

US also spend way too much on its military but it can get away with it because of its strong economy and USD as reserve currency. China's military spending is very low compare to its GDP. Many Chinese members will agree on this. China should increase its military spending.

As for Rome, There were other major factors that contributed to the collapse of Rome, not just the economy, to put it loosely.

I respectfully disagree. Apologies for the source, but here is a snippet from Wikipedia's entry on the Qing dynasty:

The reign of the Qianlong Emperor (1735–1796) saw the apogee and initial decline of prosperity and imperial control. The population rose to some 400 million, but taxes and government revenues were fixed at a low rate, virtually guaranteeing eventual fiscal crisis. Corruption set in, rebels tested government legitimacy, and ruling elites did not change their mindsets in the face of changes in the world system. Following the Opium War, European powers imposed "unequal treaties," free trade, extraterritorialityand treaty ports under foreign control. The Taiping Rebellion (1849–1860) and Muslim uprisings in Central Asia led to the deaths of some 20 million people. In spite of these disasters, in the Tongzhi Restoration of the 1860s, Han Chinese elites rallied to the defense of the Confucian order and the Qing rulers. The initial gains in the Self-Strengthening Movement were destroyed in the First Sino-Japanese War of 1895, in which the Qing lost its influence over Korea and the possession of Taiwan. New Armies were organized, but the ambitious Hundred Days Reform of 1898 was turned back by the Empress Dowager Cixi, a ruthless but capable leader. When, in response to the violently anti-foreign Yihetuan ("Boxers"), foreign powers invaded China, the Empress Dowager declared war on them, leading to disastrous defeat.

The government then initiated unprecedented fiscal and administrative reforms, including elections, a new legal code, and abolition of the examination system. Sun Yat-sen and other revolutionaries competed with reformers such as Liang Qichao and monarchists such as Kang Youwei to transform the Qing empire into a modern nation. After the death of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor in 1908, the hardline Manchu court alienated reformers and local elites alike. Local uprisings starting on October 11, 1911 led to the 1911 Revolution. The last emperor abdicated on February 12, 1912.

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So Qing was brought down, fundamentally, by economic mismanagement (and the attending corruption). You've already acknowledged that the USSR was brought down by economic mismanagement. As far as Rome, of course it's never as simple as one factor, but I would assert that, like the others, the primary factor was economic in nature. Money goes a long way towards papering over all of the other flaws.

It would initially appear that exceptions to this rule are autocratic regimes that have the luxury of turning all of their military power inward, such as the dictatorships of the middle east and North Korea. It doesn't require nearly as much economic strength to suppress peasants, but I can also guarantee that those regimes won't last much longer, either.

 

[Mahmoud_EGY]

I don't know if there will be the next reserve currency, but most likely in the future, should the USD reserve is no longer required for international trade, a country's currency may need to be backed by collateral, ie gold and silver.

this would be more stable and fair

The problem with us Arabs is we're anticipating things to fall into place. We need to have the mindset that all odds are against us and we must advance in every way we can. Every minute should be valuable to us. We can achieve our goals if we want to. The problem is that we literally don't want to achieve our goals or don't bother doing so. Once you and I and our brother really want it from our hearts it will happen. We don't need to be this hopeless.

maybe i am wishing for an easy answer but there are facts no one can ignore when you compare the US army in iraq and afganstan to the US army in ww2 who fought in 2 fronts and won also the rise of china and russia will do good to the world at least in the soviet era there was someone who you can turn to
most in the middle east including me view the US as a threat to his country their actions in iraq has really made me think what if someday it was Egypt and they would have attacked iran if they had the chance next no one can really tell where would they invade

 

[The SiLent crY]

I vote for Pakistan

 

[Falcon29]

maybe i am wishing for an easy answer but there are facts no one can ignore when you compare the US army in iraq and afganstan to the US army in ww2 who fought in 2 fronts and won also the rise of china and russia will do good to the world at least in the soviet era there was someone who you can turn to
most in the middle east including me view the US as a threat to his country their actions in iraq has really made me think what if someday it was Egypt and they would have attacked iran if they had the chance next no one can really tell where would they invade

As I said, we're not going to get anywhere with this mentality. The Chinese and Russians are still behind. Even if they become more powerful, what will that do for us? Nothing. We should have our own interests, it's our region.

They could attack Iran, they just don't want to do it for several reasons. It's all about calculated interests, they plan well ahead.

 

[A.P. Richelieu]

The answer to the question

What is the greatest Middle Eastern military power?

Surely must be

The United States of America's Armed Forces

They are in the Middle East, and none is more powerful.

 

[tranquilium]

I respectfully disagree. Apologies for the source, but here is a snippet from Wikipedia's entry on the Qing dynasty:
---
So Qing was brought down, fundamentally, by economic mismanagement (and the attending corruption). You've already acknowledged that the USSR was brought down by economic mismanagement. As far as Rome, of course it's never as simple as one factor, but I would assert that, like the others, the primary factor was economic in nature. Money goes a long way towards papering over all of the other flaws.

It would initially appear that exceptions to this rule are autocratic regimes that have the luxury of turning all of their military power inward, such as the dictatorships of the middle east and North Korea. It doesn't require nearly as much economic strength to suppress peasants, but I can also guarantee that those regimes won't last much longer, either.

Saying Qing was brought down by economic management is like saying world war I is started because Ferdinand doesn't wear a bullet proof vest. His death maybe a trigger, but the cause of the war is there long before Ferdinand is even born. Qing's fundamental problem is that it is a dynasty founded by a minority race and as a result its ruling concentrated on caste segregation and maintaining a feudal dynasty rather than moving on with industrial revolution. The wealth of Qing empire is also exaggerated because it is agricultural nation instead of industrial nation and its GDP (if you apply the term) is mostly in farmers and locked in the land. You actually have much fewer cash flow. Taking the Boxer Protocol (辛丑条约) for example, it is about the most unequal treaty in Chinese history and the Qing empire has trouble paying for its 450 million taels of fine silver. However, if you compare it to what the French coughed up after Franco-Prussia war you will see that the payment for Boxer Protocol is a little more than half of the settlement for Franco-Prussia war and the French paid it off in three years. This really shouldn't be surprising, because we are comparing industrial nations with agriculture nations. Qing's fall is ultimately before it was lagging behind the tide of history and it got swiped away.

I honestly don't know how you say "China will learn the lesson again" with a straight face when you are an American.

 

[xunzi]

Turkey has the most potent military strength right now but Iran has higher potential. Let remember that Iran was being sanction by the West so weapon import is difficult. Even us when we try to help Iran in military matter, our West peers took that opportunity to criticize and bash us for not abiding with sanction rule. But now that Iran has reconciliation with the West, the potential is there. Iran can feel safe that without any sanction restriction, there is no stopping us to collaborate with Iran on defense matter. In fact, we recently just sign agreement with Iran on defense cooperation. In addition, Iran has oil, a lot of oil and energy, to power its toys.