Independent experts are divided on the extent of Russia's strength. However, American intelligence believes Russia's military may have rebounded to become the second most powerful in the world, behind only the United States, after suffering from mismanagement and insufficient resources after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Military spending increased several-fold under former President Vladimir Putin, buoyed by booming oil and gas revenues.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice voiced her concern about Russia's military might in an interview with ABC News during a trip to Moscow last year.
"I think the rapid growth in Russian military spending definitely bears watching," she told ABC's Jonathan Karl.
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