U.S. Air Force Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan (French media)

Since World War II, the United States has actively maintained a military presence around the world, supported by an extensive network of facilities, including permanent and temporary military bases and sites, as well as local military facilities in various countries.

According to a report released by the U.S. Congressional Research Service in July 2024, the U.S. military has or operates more than 128 military bases in 51 countries around the world.

U.S. overseas military bases carry out a wide range of strategic and security functions, first of all providing secure space for deploying forces and storing military equipment, ensuring the U.S. maintains operational capability outside its homeland and can be deployed when needed.

In addition, these bases perform advanced intelligence tasks, such as electronic eavesdropping and communication monitoring, aimed at detecting threats that may target the United States or its allies and partners at an early stage. They also use various defense systems, including radar and missile interception systems, to protect troops, facilities, and important areas.

These bases are also important logistics and training centers, responsible for supply, maintenance, and equipment replenishment operations. They can also conduct joint exercises and training with allied forces to test military plans, improve combat readiness, and achieve a higher level of operational interoperability.

The U.S. overseas military presence serves multiple purposes. It projects military power, thereby deterring adversaries. It also ensures that this force remains active in regions Washington considers vital to its national interests beyond its territorial boundaries, serving its strategic and security objectives, including rapid response to security emergencies and supporting U.S. commitments to allies and partner nations.

Incirlik Air Base, Turkey: Ankara allowed U.S. forces to use the base to strike ISIS (Reuters)

Given the critical role these bases play, Washington allocates hundreds of billions of dollars annually for them. The U.S. Department of Defense estimates that the operating costs of overseas bases in fiscal year 2023 were approximately $31.7 billion, in addition to $5.3 billion allocated for planning, design, and construction of new military infrastructure overseas.

However, these official data do not reflect the full picture, as they may not include emergency expenditures, regular deployments, or ongoing training costs. According to independent estimates, actual spending could be almost twice the officially reported amount.

Historical Background

Since World War II (1938-1945), overseas military bases have played a key role in U.S. foreign strategy. After the U.S. entered the war, hundreds of military bases were established and used to support its combat operations. These bases were mostly concentrated in major fronts, especially in Europe and the Pacific, as well as other areas outside the main combat zones.

After the war, the U.S. retained some military bases and established new ones in the Axis countries to support military management and reconstruction needs. The outbreak of the Cold War in the late 1940s prompted the U.S. to expand its network of overseas military bases, especially in Western Europe and East Asia.

With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Cold War ended, and the U.S. reduced its military presence abroad. During the 1990s and early 21st century, the U.S. closed dozens of military bases and reduced its garrisons in Europe, the Indian Ocean, and the Pacific.

During this period, the outbreak of the Second Gulf War in the early 1990s and the September 11 attacks in 2001 led the U.S. to shift its military strategy toward the Middle East. To strengthen its presence and maintain its strategic interests, the U.S. quickly established new military bases in several countries in the region.

Midway through the 2010s, driven by competition with a major regional power, the U.S. once again strengthened its military presence in Europe and the Indo-Pacific region.

In Europe, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine in 2014 and the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022 prompted Washington to restart military bases previously stationed in Iceland and deploy U.S. forces to new areas, especially in Eastern Europe.

Strategic competition with China also prompted the U.S. to enhance its military deployment in the Indo-Pacific region.

By the 2030s, these two regions have become the main focus of the U.S. overseas military power, with Japan, Germany, and South Korea accounting for more than 70% of the U.S. overseas military presence.

Types of Overseas Bases

The U.S. Department of Defense classifies its overseas bases into two main categories: permanent bases used for continuous garrisons, and emergency bases used for temporary support of combat missions and other emergency operations. Under this framework, bases are further divided into different subcategories based on the level of U.S. military presence or the duration of operations.

Permanent bases are divided into the following three categories:

  • Main bases: Have strong infrastructure and are permanently occupied by active-duty forces.
  • Forward operating bases: Have scalable infrastructure and are regularly used by active-duty forces.
  • Collaborative security bases: Have limited or no U.S. presence, and are periodically supported by the U.S. or host country.

Emergency sites are divided into three categories based on their operating period:

  • Main sites: Can be used immediately.
  • Temporary sites: Used for a period of one month to two years.
  • Semi-permanent sites: Used for a period of two to five years.

The U.S. will withdraw from the base in N'Djamena, Niger, in 2024 (French media)

Important U.S. Overseas Military Bases

U.S. military bases are spread across strategically influential areas globally, mainly divided into five regions: the Indian Ocean and Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean.

Indo-Pacific Region

The Indo-Pacific region is the most prominent area for U.S. overseas military deployment, and it is also where the largest number of U.S. military personnel are stationed outside the country. Most of them are stationed in Japan and South Korea.

According to data from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the scale of the U.S. overseas military presence is the largest in the world, with 15 major U.S. military bases. The U.S. State Department states that approximately 55,000 U.S. military personnel will be stationed in Japan by 2025.

According to official U.S. data, as of 2024, South Korea had 24,234 active-duty soldiers, ranking third globally and second in the Indo-Pacific region.

The majority of the permanent U.S. military forces in the region are deployed in fixed bases in Japan and South Korea, including bases of the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Space Force.

The U.S. has equipped these bases with advanced combat capabilities and military equipment, including aircraft carriers, destroyers, cruisers, amphibious assault ships, fighter jets, electronic attack aircraft, command and control aircraft, helicopters, tankers, and transport aircraft.

The U.S. maintains a small-scale permanent military presence in other countries, as well as local bases and regular deployments in several countries in the region.

In Australia, the U.S. has a naval rotating force stationed at the Royal Australian Air Force Darwin Base and Robertson Barracks. The U.S. also has the right to regularly deploy fighters to the Tindal Air Base and other Australian military bases. In addition, the U.S. jointly operates the Harold E. Holt Naval Communication Station and the Joint Defense Facilities in Pine Valley.

The U.S. maintains a small number of permanent personnel in the maritime area center in Singapore, providing logistical support and regularly deploying combat aircraft and ships. The Paya Lebar Air Base regularly receives U.S. forces and aircraft. U.S. forces can also use Changi Naval Base and Sembawang Shipyard.

In the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, the U.S. has a military garrison, which also houses the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site.

The U.S. can regularly access nine local defense bases in the Philippines for military and humanitarian activities, as well as six airports and ports in Papua New Guinea.

The most famous permanent military bases in the Indo-Pacific region include:

  • Kadena Air Base, located on the island of Honshu, Japan: Its main mission is to strengthen U.S. deterrence in the region and provide air support for offensive aerial operations.

This base is the headquarters of the U.S. Forces in Japan, the headquarters of the Fifth Air Force, and the home of the 374th Airlift Wing. This wing includes several squadrons responsible for executing support, maintenance, medical services, rapid air transport in the Indo-Pacific, tactical ground air transport, and airborne operations.

This base also hosts other units, such as the 515th Air Operations Squadron and the Japanese Air Defense Command responsible for supervising Japanese air defense missions.

Zama Garrison in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, is the main headquarters of the U.S. in the region (Getty Images)

  • Zama Camp in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan: This is the oldest military camp in Japan and the headquarters of the U.S. Army in Japan. It is home to a series of military units, including the First Army (Forward Army), the U.S. Army Aviation Battalion in Japan, the 311th Military Intelligence Battalion, the Japanese Engineering Corps, the 78th Communications Battalion, and the Bilateral Coordination Office.
  • Yokosuka Naval Base in Honshu, Japan: This is a strategic base for the U.S. and is also the largest overseas naval facility in the world, as well as the headquarters of the U.S. Seventh Fleet.

This base has 13 naval commands and over 71 coastal commands and subordinate activities, responsible for supporting maritime operations in the western Pacific, including the 15th Destroyer Squadron of the U.S. Seventh Fleet and the activities of the USS George Washington aircraft carrier.

  • Iwakuni Air Base in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan: Its mission is to provide continuous operational support for U.S. and allied military training, operations, and emergency actions in the India-Pacific region.

This base is home to several units, including the 1st Naval Air Wing of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, the 3rd Naval Logistics Battalion, the 5th Naval Air Wing, and the 31st Fleet Air Wing.

  • Misawa Air Base in Honshu, Japan: Its mission is to provide air and ground support and logistics services for all U.S. Navy and Marine Corps forces stationed in northern Japan.

This base is the headquarters of the 35th Fighter Wing, whose mission is to enhance U.S. deterrence, protect U.S. national security interests in the Pacific, and defend Japan. This base also houses the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force.

  • Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan: The largest U.S. air base, and the center of U.S. air power in the Asia-Pacific region.

This base is home to the 18th Wing and its related units, forming the "Kadena Team," which is the largest combat wing of the U.S. overseas. The Kadena Team is equipped with an integrated deployable forward air force consisting of 81 combat aircraft, as well as aerial refueling aircraft, airborne warning and control aircraft, and search and rescue aircraft.

  • Butler Camp in Okinawa, Japan: Includes important military bases such as the Futenma Air Station, Kinser Camp, Foster Camp, Courtney Camp, Hansen Camp, Schwaab Camp, and Gonzalez Camp.

This base is the headquarters of the Third Marine Aircraft Wing, a forward-deployed, rapidly responsive, global Marine air task force responsible for conducting major expeditionary and combat operations.

This base is also the headquarters of the Third Marine Expeditionary Air Wing, a forward-deployed, rapidly responsive, global Marine aviation force responsible for conducting major expeditionary and combat operations.

  • Humphreys Camp in Pyeongtaek, South Korea: The headquarters and center of U.S. forces in South Korea, housing the U.S. Eighth Army and the Second Infantry Division.

This camp is home to U.S. Army direct support, transportation, and tactical units, including the 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade of the Second Infantry Division.

This camp also includes the most active military airport in the Pacific region - DeSoto Airport.

The Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, is the location of the 51st Fighter Wing "Mustang" and its 24 subordinate units (Getty Images)

  • Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea: The location of the 51st Fighter Wing (Mustang) and its 24 subordinate units (including the 7th Air Force).

This base supports various air combat missions to maintain stability in the Northeast Asian region and to protect South Korea from potential aggression by its neighbor, North Korea.

  • Diego Garcia Air Base in the British Indian Ocean Territory: This is a U.S.-UK joint base, considered one of the most important bases for the U.S. overseas. Its mission is to provide logistical support for forward-deployed forces in the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Gulf.

This base is home to the Marine Corps' 2nd Prepositioned Squadron and detachments from multiple military groups and units, including the U.S. Industrial Supply Force, the Naval Computer and Communications Station, the Pacific Air Mobility Command, and two space operations squadrons.

Europe

According to a report from the Council on Foreign Relations in early 2025, Europe is the second-largest area of influence for U.S. overseas forces globally, with approximately 84,000 U.S. military personnel stationed there, distributed across about 31 permanent bases and 19 other military bases.

Most of the permanently stationed military personnel in Europe are stationed in fixed bases in Germany, Italy, and the UK.

According to official U.S. data, there were over 35,000 U.S. permanent military personnel stationed in Germany in 2024, ranking second globally and first in Europe.

Italy is the second country in Europe with the most U.S. permanent military bases, with approximately 12,375 U.S. permanent military personnel stationed there, distributed across five major military bases.

There are 10,058 U.S. military personnel permanently stationed in the UK, and another approximately 3,292 U.S. military personnel stationed in Spain. Both the UK and Spain allow U.S. forces to use their important military bases and locations within their territories.

The U.S. makes limited deployments to countries such as Belgium, Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Iceland, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, and Norway, and frequently uses local military facilities for these activities.

In countries such as Poland, the U.S. has a larger presence, with the U.S. maintaining approximately 10,000 rotating troops in Poland by early 2025. According to the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. also operates the Rzeszów Naval Support Facility and has an armored brigade, missile defense system, fighter jets, reconnaissance aircraft, and drones.

The U.S. Department of Defense has listed the Mihai Brătianu Air Base on the Black Sea coast in Romania and the Deveselu Naval Support Base as its military facilities. According to the U.S. Department of State, as of early 2025, there were approximately 3,000 U.S. military personnel in Romania.

The U.S. Air Force operates aviation facilities at the Incirlik Air Base in Turkey, which is a strategic base supporting U.S. military operations, particularly in the Middle East. As of 2024, there were 1,690 U.S. active-duty personnel stationed in Turkey.

U.S. forces stationed in Europe are equipped with ground force equipment and combat aircraft, including rotorcraft, fighter jets, electronic attack aircraft, bombers, transport aircraft, and refueling aircraft. In addition, Spain and Italy also have warships, destroyers, and amphibious command ships.

U.S. forces stationed in Europe conduct military activities in multiple theaters outside the European continent. These activities include tracking Russian military activities, including Russian submarines in the Atlantic, rapid response operations in the Middle East and Africa, providing warnings of ballistic missile attacks, and conducting intelligence collection and electronic eavesdropping operations.

Ramstein Air Base in Germany is the largest U.S. air hub in Europe (Getty Images)

The most famous permanent military bases in Europe include:

  • Stuttgart Garrison in the Stuttgart area of Germany: Contains five military facilities: Armor Barracks, Bach Barracks, Kelly Barracks, Robinson Barracks, and Stuttgart Military Airport.

This garrison is the strategic command center for U.S. military operations in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. It is the headquarters of the European Special Operations Command and the U.S. European Command, which manages 51 bases and military units across Europe.

  • Ramstein Air Base in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany: It is the largest U.S. air base in Europe and an important transportation and medical evacuation platform, known as the "global gateway to Europe," and supports U.S. military operations in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

This base is part of the largest U.S. military base overseas – the Kaiserlautern Military Base.

  • Bavarian Garrison in Bavaria, Germany: This garrison includes the two largest permanent training areas in Europe, Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels, as well as the Feuerstein and Garmisch Barracks.

The mission of this garrison is to support numerous U.S. military units, including the 7th Army Training Command, the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, the 15th Engineer Battalion, the 1st Combat Support Battalion, the 1st Squadron, the 91st Cavalry Regiment, the 4th Battalion, the 319th Field Artillery Airborne Regiment, the 18th Military Police Brigade, the 41st Field Artillery Brigade, and the 1st and 4th Infantry Battalions.

  • Rhineland-Palatinate Garrison: This garrison consists of 31 locations in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany and is the main command center of the European International Operations Command, responsible for managing the global response missions of the Army, and providing important services to 35 units at 26 strategic locations in Germany.
  • Ansbach Garrison: Includes air force, engineer, and artillery units stationed at six locations and nine military fortresses around the city of Ansbach.

This garrison is the headquarters of the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade, the 7th Engineer Brigade, the 4th Air Defense Artillery Battalion, 5th Battery, and the 57th Air Defense Artillery Battalion, 1st Battery.

  • Wiesbaden Garrison: Composed of 15 facilities and residential areas in Wiesbaden and its surrounding areas, it is the headquarters of multiple military units, including the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Headquarters, the European Facilities Management Command, the 66th Military Intelligence Brigade, the 214th Aviation Group, 1st Battalion, the Wiesbaden U.S. Military Network, and several U.S. Air Force units.
  • U.S. Army Post: The Edelweiss Camp in Vicenza, Italy, is the home of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, which is responsible for rapid reaction forces in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
  • The U.S. Navy Support Center in Naples, Italy: This base is the location of the U.S. Navy's European and African Command and the U.S. Sixth Fleet, with over 50 independent commands.

The mission of this center is to provide logistical and administrative support to active-duty U.S. Navy forces, other U.S. agencies, and NATO commands.

  • Sigonella Naval Air Station in Sicily, Italy: It is one of the largest U.S. naval security command centers worldwide, known as the "center of the Mediterranean," with over 39 U.S. command centers and activity centers.

This base provides logistical and operational support for the activities of the U.S. Sixth Fleet and other U.S. military units as well as U.S. allies and partners. It provides rapid response capabilities for operations in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.

This base supports intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, and maintains the rotation deployment of anti-submarine aircraft, Marine Corps aircraft squadrons, reconnaissance aircraft, and drones.

The Sigonella Naval Air Station in Italy is one of the largest U.S. naval bases in the world (Getty Images)

Petofia Space Base: Originally named Thule Air Base, it is located on Greenland, an island in Denmark. It is one of the most important overseas strategic bases for the U.S., serving as a shield to protect U.S. interests in the Arctic.

The mission of this base includes detecting and tracking intercontinental ballistic missiles targeting North America above the Arctic and using sensors and radars operated by the 12th Space Warning Squadron to monitor space.

This base also performs important functions such as satellite command and control through stations operated by the 23rd Space Operations Squadron, supporting the U.S. Space Force.

  • RAF Lakenheath Air Base: Located in Forres, England, it is the headquarters of the U.S. Air Force's 48th Fighter Wing, the largest fighter wing in Europe. Its mission is to provide rapid response air combat forces and global support. The base has four F-15 and F-35 fighter squadrons ready for immediate deployment.
  • RAF Mildenhall Air Base: Its mission is to support U.S. forces stationed in Europe, the Arctic, Africa, and the Black Sea.

This base is the location of the 100th Air Refueling Wing, the only permanent air refueling wing in Europe for the U.S., and accommodates units from four major commands: the Air Combat Command, the Air Force Special Operations Command, the Air Mobility Command, and the U.S. Air Forces in Europe.

RAF Menwith Hill Base is jointly operated by the U.S. and the UK (Getty Images)

  • RAF Menwith Hill Base: A large spy, intelligence, and space communication center jointly operated by the U.S. and the UK.

Its main mission is to collect large-scale electronic intelligence and support other military operations, including the U.S. ballistic missile defense program.

  • Rota Naval Base: A base in Spain, part of which has been designated as a support area for U.S. and NATO forces. This area has three active piers and an airport covering 670 acres. Additionally, it has the largest weapons and fuel facility in Europe.

This base is a major logistics hub for U.S. and NATO forces, providing cargo, fuel, and logistical support to naval vessels and military units passing through the area.

It is also an important component of the U.S. European Command's regional missile defense system, with four U.S. destroyers equipped with the Aegis Baseline 9 ballistic missile defense system stationed there.

  • Naval Support Base: Located in Souda Bay, Crete, Greece, it is an important logistics and refueling hub, with the only naval dock in the Mediterranean capable of accommodating U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.

This base supports global reconnaissance, intelligence collection, and surveillance activities of the U.S. Air Force and Navy, as well as the deployment of U.S., allied, and partner forces in the eastern Mediterranean, as well as in Europe, Africa, and the Central Command's area of responsibility.

Middle East

The U.S. has an important military presence in the Middle East, with its forces spread across more than 12 countries and stationed on ships in its territorial waters.

The U.S. has 8 permanent military bases and 11 other available military bases in the region.

The U.S. military's mission in the region primarily involves protecting U.S. interests in the region and supporting its ally Israel against Palestinian resistance forces, Iran, and its affiliated armed groups. Strategic competition with Russia and China is another motivation for the U.S. military presence in the region.

After Israel's invasion of the Gaza Strip in October 2023, the U.S. dispatched additional forces to support Israel's escalation of the conflict on all fronts and participated in strikes against Iran and the Houthi rebels in Yemen.

As of summer 2025, the total U.S. military presence in the Middle East ranges between 40,000 and 50,000.

Many countries in the region have U.S. military presence, with some countries (such as Egypt) having very limited presence, while others have a large number of U.S. troops and bases on their territory.

Iraq has multiple U.S. bases, the most important of which are the Ain al-Assad Air Base and the Erbil Air Base. Jordan also has U.S. military bases, the most notable of which is the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, which houses the headquarters of the 332nd Air Wing and F-35 fighters. The Sultanate of Oman also has U.S. military bases, including the Duqm Air Base.

The U.S. military presence in Syria includes the Tanf Base and various facilities in the northeastern part of the country and other areas. U.S. forces in Syria provide advice and assistance to the Syrian Democratic Forces, as well as conducting so-called "counter-terrorism" missions.

Although both Israel and the U.S. do not acknowledge the existence of U.S. military bases in Israel, Washington has announced that it has emergency stockpiles of weapons and military equipment in Israel.

In terms of the scale of U.S. military presence, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia are the most important countries in the region. These countries have the most important U.S. military bases in the Middle East, which are as follows:

  • Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar: This is the largest U.S. military facility in the Middle East and the forward headquarters of the U.S. Central Command. The base also houses numerous military headquarters and units, including the U.S. Air Forces Central Command, the U.S. Special Operations Command Central, the U.S. Central Command Joint Air Operations Center, and the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing conducting reconnaissance missions.

The base's combat capabilities include reconnaissance aircraft, refueling aircraft, combat transport aircraft, as well as Patriot missile defense systems and radar. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, the base houses 10,000 U.S. soldiers.

Alrifjan Camp in Kuwait is the logistics support and command center for U.S. military operations in the Middle East (Getty Images)

  • Naval Support Center (Jufair Naval Base): Located in Bahrain, it is the only permanent naval base in the Middle East. It is the headquarters of the U.S. Navy Central Command and the U.S. Fifth Fleet.

This base has four minesweepers, one expeditionary support ship, and two后勤 support ships. In addition, the center houses U.S. maritime reconnaissance aircraft and Patriot missile defense systems, as well as a squadron of six fast-response vessels, a rescue vessel fleet, and a 150-person task force.

  • Al Rifjan Camp in Kuwait: The forward headquarters of the U.S. Army Central, it is an important center for logistics support, resupply, troop protection, and command and control of U.S. military operations in the Middle East.
  • Al Aisariyah Air Base in Kuwait: A major air transport and support hub for joint forces and international coalitions in the region. It is the headquarters of the U.S. Air Force's 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, responsible for air transport missions.
  • Al Dafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates: This is a strategic base that, in addition to supporting combat operations, also conducts reconnaissance and intelligence gathering missions.

The base's combat capabilities include early warning aircraft, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft, refueling aircraft, and advanced combat aircraft such as the F-22 Raptor stealth fighter.

  • Sultan Abdul Aziz Air Base in Saudi Arabia: The 378th Air Expeditionary Wing is stationed here. The base has a missile defense system as well as transport and refueling aircraft.

Africa

There are a limited number of U.S. active-duty military personnel stationed in Africa, totaling approximately 1,150 as of March 2024, with most of them stationed in fixed bases in Djibouti.

Most of the U.S. military personnel stationed in Africa are classified as temporary, carrying out emergency or rotational missions.

U.S. military bases and rotational forces deployed in Africa support logistical activities, military training, support for regional forces, response to humanitarian crises and evacuations, and the protection of U.S. interests in the region.

According to data from the U.S. Congressional Research Service, U.S. military forces stationed in Africa use two permanent military bases and seven other accessible military locations, distributed in Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia, Gabon, Chad, and Ascension Island.

The most important bases in Africa are mainly distributed in two places:

  • Lemonnier Base in Djibouti: Located near the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb, it is the largest U.S. base in Africa. It is the main base for U.S. military operations in the Horn of Africa and the headquarters of the Joint Task Force (USTF), as well as a hub for U.S. military transport aircraft.

This base is the main hub for U.S. conventional aircraft and drones, with six U.S. drone bases, one conventional aircraft base, and a fighter squadron.

This base supports U.S. operations and coalition activities in the Red Sea and other regions, and provides support for approximately 4,000 U.S., coalition, and joint military and civilian personnel.

Its mission is to enhance the capacity of partner countries, promote regional security and stability, prevent conflicts, and protect U.S. and allied interests.

The Camp Lemonnier Air Base in Djibouti is the largest U.S. base in Africa (AP)

  • Ascension Island Airport: Located in the British overseas territory of Ascension Island, Saint Helena, Ascension Island, and Tristan da Cunha.

This airport is the permanent forward operating center for U.S. forces in Africa, housing facilities and personnel of the U.S. Air Force and Space Force, and providing support for aerial logistics, launch, and space surveillance operations.

Latin America and the Caribbean

The U.S. does not have a large-scale permanent military presence in Latin America and the Caribbean. According to data from the U.S. Congressional Research Service, as of 2024, there were approximately 1,650 active-duty personnel stationed in the region. Most of them are stationed in Cuba, with 616 soldiers, followed by Honduras, with 365 soldiers.

The region does not have many U.S. overseas military bases. The U.S. Congressional Research Service has identified three fixed bases and three other military bases that allow U.S. forces to enter.

Cuba, Honduras, and the Bahamas each have a fixed base: Guantanamo Bay, Soto Cano, and the Atlantic Underwater Testing and Evaluation Center.

The Netherlands' two constituent countries, Aruba and Curaçao, each have a cooperative security base operated by the U.S. Air Force, and El Salvador has a maritime cooperative security base in Coromar.

These bases mainly support drug enforcement operations and combating transnational criminal organizations, as well as supporting logistics, research, development, testing, and evaluation activities, and countering the expansion of Chinese and Russian influence in the region.

The Guantanamo Bay Naval Base has a military prison that holds prisoners from the "war on terror" (AP)

The most famous overseas military bases in Latin America and the Caribbean include two:

  • Guantanamo Bay Naval Base: Located on the southeastern coast of Cuba, it is the oldest naval base of the U.S. overseas and an important operational and logistical center, supporting various military and humanitarian missions, such as maritime security, humanitarian aid, joint operations, and joint training.

The Guantanamo base is the headquarters of multiple military units, including the Joint Task Force, the Joint Detainee Unit, the Joint Intelligence Unit, the Joint Medical Unit, the U.S. Coast Guard's Guantanamo Bay Maritime Security Detachment, and the Marine Corps Security Force Company, the Navy Security Force, and the Marine Corps units.

Here is also a military prison, holding "illegal combatants" captured in multiple regions, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq, during the so-called "war on terror."

The Cuban government considers the U.S. presence in Guantanamo Bay to be illegal and based on an unlawful agreement, while the U.S. government insists that the presence in the bay is legal under two diplomatic agreements reached in 1903 and 1934.

  • Soto Cano Air Base in Honduras: This is the only forward-operating base of the U.S. in Central America. Its mission is to support the activities of the "Bravo" Joint Task Force under the U.S. Southern Command, which carries out missions to combat transnational organized crime, provide humanitarian aid, and promote regional cooperation, security, and stability.

This base also houses the 228th Aviation Battalion, 1st Battalion, which has a variety of equipment, including medium and heavy helicopters and medical evacuation helicopters.

Source: Al Jazeera + Electronic Website + News Agency

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7557144187781153289/

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