Why is the U.S.’s military so high and why is it so hard to bring it down to numbers similar to other counties?

Question

Why is the U.S.’s military so high and why is it so hard to bring it down to numbers similar to other counties?

In: Other

Answer 1

The US maintains a significant overseas military presence to support the global hegemony of the United States. The US also takes the primary role in a number of military alliances, including NATO.

ELI5 Version: US politics involves a lot of blowing stuff up around the world, and that requires a big military.