The problem of course is that Germany Japan spent and still spends a few billion a year on American bases. I doubt they can fund the 3rd and 4th most powerful military in the world while still paying off USA every year.Regarding Japan, spending wouldn't be necessarily a problem from practical or economic point of view, it's mostly a political question. According to some estimates, Japan did have the second largest military spending in the world just after the collapse of the Soviet Union and it has been the third largest spender for longer periods in the 80's and 90's. If Japan increased its spending from the current level of 1.0% of its GDP to 1.5%, a relatively modest number, it would already reach the same level than Russia, about 69 billion USD, if we use SIPRI's estimates.
It should be noted though that even if Japan did have larger military budget, the military's role might be still limited to strictly defensive tasks if there aren't big changes in Japan's own domestic policies and thinking regarding security issues.
The problem of course is that Germany Japan spent and still spends a few billion a year on American bases. I doubt they can fund the 3rd and 4th most powerful military in the world while still paying off USA every year.
What would it take for the German and Japanese armed forces to have no restrictions regarding their military sizes/expenditure and rise up to (temporarily, at least) be the 3rd and 4 most powerful militaries in the world after the US and USSR?
Well, in fairness, to achieve third place, you need to butterfly away the rise of China as a world power, and as there would not be as much incentive for Japan to spend so much...
What would it take for the German and Japanese armed forces to have no restrictions regarding their military sizes/expenditure and rise up to (temporarily, at least) be the 3rd and 4 most powerful militaries in the world after the US and USSR?
What would it take for the German and Japanese armed forces to have no restrictions regarding their military sizes/expenditure and rise up to (temporarily, at least) be the 3rd and 4 most powerful militaries in the world after the US and USSR?