1.NounA sovereign state's army or military force that is too small to fundamentally protect the country, and could be considered to exist merely "for decoration".
"Without Soviet support surrounding the missile crisis, Cuba's military would have been merely a bonsai army and they would have quickly succumbed to any serious invasion from the west."
2.NounA tiny, largely-ornamental (military) structure bereft of the capability to effectively carry out its constitutional missions.
3.NounA military that covers the entire spectrum of capabilities, but has virtually no external military clout.