Which Countries Have The Most Active Troops Abroad?

Countries across the world send their troops abroad to conduct combat operations, peacekeeping duties and training exercises. Singapore is a good example of a country that utilizes training opportunities for its military abroad and a significant part of its airforce is based in the U.S. and France due to severe airspace constraints at home. Setting such training agreements to the side, which countries have the most troops abroad in an operational capacity?

A recent report from PwC found that 14.9 percent of the U.S. military is carrying out coalition operations abroad. It maintains massive military facilities in the Middle East and the extent of its global footprint was revealed in early October when four soldiers were killed in ambush in Niger. Like the U.S., Russia is heavily engaged in Syria. It has a strong presence at Khmeimim Air Base and it also has military detachments in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. According to PwC, 6.7 percent of the Russian armed forces are deployed abroad in an operational capacity.

France still has military commitments in Africa and the Middle East. 3,000 French soldiers are still part of Operation Barkhane in the Sahel while the country is also heavily engaged in the fight against ISIS. 8.9 percent of the French military is deployed on active operations abroad, the third-highest rate worldwide.