The total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Russia last year was $1.5 trillion. The GDP of California was $2.5 trillion – almost twice as much. Other than having nuclear arms, Russia is a weak nation, financially and militarily. The war in Syria has tied up most of its modern equipment and its trained special forces. So far, Russia has lost at least four military aircraft in Syria that we know of, and that does not include helicopters.
Russia has no blue-water navy. The only smoke-billowing aircraft carrier Russia has is so outdated, it barely made it to the Mediterranean for a tour of duty and then lost one of its aircraft because of a failure to catch it on landing. America has 11 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers with the most sophisticated aircraft ever built, and nine more small carriers for vertical take-off aircraft.
For every operational armored vehicle and tank Russia has, NATO has four. For every operational war plane Russia has, NATO has three. Most Russian fighters and bombers are decades old and not really war-ready. America’s National Guard has better and more modern equipment than the Russian Army.
Russia has 150 million people and a declining population. The United States is the third-most populous nation in the world with 330 million people, and more arriving daily. The manufacturing base in Russia is decaying, while America turns out the most advanced technology the world has ever seen.