How powerful is Britain?

[_Jumper_]

I heard one expert claim that it is the second most powerful nation on Earth. Is this true? If it's not, how strong is Britain? Does it really have the ability to play a major role in world affairs independently?

[PretzelWarrior]

1. absolutely not. Germany and France are rising up even more.

I think one must look at the EU and China to see the real power bases to oppose the U.S. will. Japan....well, island economies are really tough to put together long term strength unless they can have colonies abroad like Britain did in past and Japan tried to do in 30s and 40's.

They have a tremendous amount of financial pull these days, but they are totally the lapdog of the US. The U.S. and ENgland have been and are a dual world power.

[Maple]

2. This says the UK is a client state

http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,999605,00.html

[shockingelk]

3. top 4 spenders:

US
Russia
China
France

China's force isn't very mobile.

[cjbuchanan]

4. How can anyone even make that statement?

I would think Russia or China would be up there. I mean Russia still has a lot from the Cold War days and China has a large population and a large military budget.

However, I don't think you can decide which country is the second most powerful. This is not a game of Civilization or Risk.

I don't think they are number 2 in military spending or size of military. I don't think they are number 2 in GNP or any trade indicator. Maybe he said that because they have been America's main ally for a long time. Since America is number 1, our buddy must be number 2.

[_Jumper_]

5. Doesn't the CIA rank who is #2, #3, and so on?

?

[Yupster]

6. Depends on what you mean by powerful, but

I don't think you could really find a category where Britain would be number two. Maybe having the biggest friends.

I would rank Britain overall about equal to France and Italy, a step below Germany, and a few big steps below Russia and China.

What Britain does have is a comparatively strong navy so it does have the ability to project its strength better than most powers its size.