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This is a list of countries with overseas military bases.
Camp Humphreys, the largest United States overseas military base by population, with a combined military and civilian population of 40,000.
Pituffik Space Base, the largest United States overseas military base by area, at 66,000 hectares.[1]
The establishment of military bases abroad enables a country to project power, e.g. to conduct expeditionary warfare, and thereby to influence events abroad. Depending on their size and infrastructure, they can be used as staging areas or for logistical, communications and intelligence support. Many conflicts throughout modern history have resulted in overseas military bases being established in large numbers by world powers; and these bases have helped the countries that have established them to achieve political and military goals.
The United Kingdom and other colonial powers established overseas military bases in many of their colonies during the First and Second World Wars, where useful, and actively sought rights to facilities where needed for strategic reasons. At one time, the establishment of coaling stations for naval ships was important. During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union established military bases where they could within their respective spheres of influence, and actively sought influence where needed. More recently, the War on Terror has resulted in overseas military bases being established in the Middle East.
While the overall number of overseas military bases has fallen since 1945, the United States, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Russia and France still possess or utilize a substantial number of them. Smaller numbers of overseas military bases are operated by China, Iran, India, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.
The United States is the largest operator of military bases abroad, with 38 "named bases"[note 1] with active duty, national guard, reserve, or civilian personnel as of September 30, 2014. Its largest, in terms of personnel, was Ramstein AB in Germany, with almost 9,200 personnel.[2][note 2]
| Country | Location | Details |
|---|---|---|
 Malaysia | Butterworth Air Base | Use by Australia's Commitment to the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA).[3] In addition, the Australian Army maintains an infantry designated company (Rifle Company Butterworth) at Butterworth, Malaysia for training purposes. |
 United Arab Emirates | Al Minhad Air Base | Used by Australian operations in the Middle East. |
| Country | Location | Details |
|---|---|---|
 Germany | French Forces and Civilian Elements stationed in Germany (FFECSA) | |
 Djibouti | Djibouti | French forces in Djibouti[17][18] |
 Ivory Coast | French forces in Ivory Coast (FFCI)[17][18] | |
 Gabon | French elements in Gabon (EFG)[17][18] | |
 Senegal | French elements in Sénégal (EFS)[17][18] | |
 Chad | N'Djamena | Air Force Base |
 Iraq | Baghdad | Opération Chammal |
 Jordan | Prince Hassan Air Base | as part of Opération Chammal |
| United Arab Emirates | Naval Base in Abu Dhabi.[17][18] |
| Country | Location | Details |
|---|---|---|
 France | Illkirch-Graffenstaden | Light Infantry Battalion 291, part of the Franco-German Brigade |
 Lithuania | Rūdninkai | Construction underway, from 2025 onwards hosting Armoured Brig |
| Country | Location | Details |
|---|---|---|
 Cyprus | Nicosia | Hellenic Force in Cyprus.[19] |
| Country | Location | Details |
|---|---|---|
 Tajikistan | Farkhor Air Base and Ayni Air Base[20][21][22] | |
 Bhutan | Haa and Thimphu | The Indian Military Training Team (IMTRAT) is permanently stationed in western Bhutan and the Indian Army also maintains a detachment in the capital city of Thimphu.[23] |
 Madagascar | A listening post and a radar facility in northern Madagascar[24][25] | |
 Oman | Ras al Hadd and Muscat | A listening post and berthing rights for the Indian Navy.[26] |
 Mauritius | Agaléga | India has been funding the construction of 3000 m long airfield with associated facilities to house troops.[27] |
 Seychelles | Mahe, Alphonse, Farquhar, Astove and Assumption Island | Indian government supported construction of system with six coastal surveillance radars which are linked to the Indian surveillance system.[28][29][30][31] |
| Country | Location | Details |
|---|---|---|
 Syria |
Al-Kiswah and Abu Kamal | A military base[32] and several facilities[33] |
| Iraq |
Al Anbar and Salah al-Din | Military facilities and training base of supported militias |
 Lebanon |
Beqaa and Beirut Governorate | A military training facility and several military installations[34] |
| Tajikistan |
Military facilities and drone factories[35] |
| Country | Location | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Syria |
Machne Yarden, Camp Filon and Camp Yitzhak[36] | Israeli-occupied territories in the Golan Heights |
| Country | Location | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Djibouti | Ambouli | Japan Self-Defense Force Base Djibouti[39] |
Jurisdictions with Russian Armed Forces bases, facilities and troops
| Country | Location | Details |
|---|---|---|
 Bahrain | Saudi Arabian military presence in Bahrain since the Saudi-led intervention in Bahrain in 2011 as part of the Peninsula Shield Force - the military arm of the Gulf Cooperation Council. The units sent from Saudi Arabia included 1,000 (1,200)[54] troops along with 150 vehicles. Saudi Arabian soldiers were apparently from the Saudi Arabian National Guard, commanded by a son of King Abdullah, Prince Miteb.[55] | |
| Djibouti | Military base.[56][57][58] | |
 Yemen | Al Mahrah, Hadhramaut, Ma'rib, Abyan, Al Hudaydah and Taiz | Several military bases and facilities.[citation needed] |
| Country | Location | Details |
|---|---|---|
 Albania | Pasha Liman Base | 24 troops and 2 frigates.[61] An Albanian-Turkish military cooperation agreement was signed in 1992 that encompassed rebuilding Albania's Pasha Liman Base by Turkey alongside granted access for Turkish use.[62] |
 Sudan |
Suakin, Khartoum | On 17 January 2018, as part of a rapprochement with Sudan, Turkey was granted a 99-year lease over Suakin island.[63][64] Turkey plans to restore the ruined Ottoman port city on the island.[65] |
 Azerbaijan | Nasosnaya Air Base,Gizil Sherg, Joint Russian-Turkish Monitoring Centre | Buildings and structures in Gizil Sherg military town, and one terminal building located in the airfield in Hacı Zeynalabdin settlement called Nasosnaya Air Base.[66] An observation base was also built by Turkey in the Nagorno-Karabakh region after the 44-day 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. The base was established under the name "Ceasefire Observation Center", and officially started to operate in January 2021 with 60 Turkish and Russian soldiers stationed at the base.[67] |
 Bosnia and Herzegovina | Fatih Sultan Mehmet Barracks | Under EUROFOR Operation Althea 242 troops, previously under Implementation Force and Stabilisation Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina stationed at Mehmet The Conqueror Barracks.[68][69] |
| Iraq | Disputed territories of northern Iraq: Bashiqa and Bamarni Air Base | Turkey has signed agreement with Iraq which includes allowing the Turkish army to pursue elements of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq, with the permission of, and in coordination with the Federal Government of Iraq. It also includes opening two liaison offices between Baghdad and Ankara to exchange intelligence and security information between the two countries.[70][71] As of 2020, Turkey has a military base with 2,000 personnel garrisoned with around 60 tanks, Armoured personnel carriers and one commando battalion.[72][73] Turkey has more than 40+ military and intelligence bases scattered all around Iraq, the most out of any country.[74] There are plans to build a new base in the Metina area of Duhok governorate in Iraqi Kurdistan Region as of April 2021.[75][76] In total, Turkey has stationed around 5,000 to 10,000 soldiers in Iraq.[77][78] |
 Kosovo | Prizren: Sultan Murat Kışlası, Mamusha | An estimated 321 troops serve in the Kosovo Security Battalion command for UNMIK mission and KFOR peacekeeping force's.[69][79][80][81] |
 Libya | Tripolitania: al-Watiya, Mitiga,Misrata and Zwara[82] | The number of Turkish soldiers stationed in Libya is unknown.[78] |
| Cyprus | Northern Cyprus | A total of 35,000 to 40,000 armed forces of Turkey are currently in active duty Cyprus Turkish Peace Force Command in the de facto state Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.[78] |
 Qatar | Doha: Katar TSK Kara Unsur Komutanlığı | 5,000 personnel.[83][84][85][86] |
 Somalia | Mogadishu: Camp TURKSOM | 2,000 personnels.[78] |
| Syria | Turkish occupation of northern Syria: Al-Bab, Al-Rai, Akhtarin, Afrin, Jindires, Rajo and Jarablus | 5,000 personnel in Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch regions. New bases were followed at south of Afrin canton in Atme and Darat Izza[87] There are 114 Turkish bases in Syria as of January 2022.[88] After operation Peace Spring, approximately 6,400 personnel are working around the Peace Spring region between Ras al-Ayn and Tell Abyad. 19 observation points are settled around Idlib and Aleppo Province.[89] Altogether, there are an estimated 10,500 Turkish soldiers and 250 tanks stationed in Turkish occupation of northern Syria. These numbers are constantly subject to modifications.[78] |
The U.S. military maintains hundreds of military installations, both inside the United States and overseas (with at least 128 military bases in 55 countries and territories, as of July 2024). Some American bases are also NATO-led with forces from multiple countries. According to the U.S. Army, Camp Humphreys in South Korea is the largest overseas base in terms of area.[105] Most of foreign military installations are located in NATO countries, Middle East countries, South Korea and Japan.
Countries with U.S. bases include:
Africa
| Country | Location | Details |
|---|---|---|
 Cameroon |
Cameroonian Air Force Base 301, Contingency Location Garoua | The base is used to support military operations against Boko Haram.[106] Approximately 200 personnel work at the site. |
| Chad |
Camp Tassone, N'Djamena | U.S. drone base in Chad.[107] |
| Djibouti |
Camp Lemonnier, CSL Chabelley | Camp Lemonnier is the largest U.S. base in Africa with more than 4,000 military personnel.[108] |
 Egypt |
South Camp, Task Force Sinai | The Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) is an international peacekeeping force overseeing the terms of the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel. |
 Kenya |
Camp Simba | Second largest U.S. base in Africa. Over 600 U.S. military personnel work at Camp Simba.[109] |
| Seychelles |
United States drone base in Seychelles | Surveillance of Al-Shabaab over Somalia. |
| Somalia |
Baledogle Airfield | Primarily used by the United States, AMISOM and the Somali National Army as a base for conducting counterinsurgency and drone operations in the country. Approximately 450 U.S. troops remain in Somalia as of July 2024.[110] |
 Tunisia |
Bizerte-Sidi Ahmed Air Base | U.S. drone base in Tunisia.[111][112] |
Americas
| Country | Location | Details |
|---|---|---|
 Aruba (Netherlands) |
Queen Beatrix International Airport | Cooperative Security Location of U.S. Southern Command |
 Ascension Island (UK) |
Ascension Island Auxiliary Airfield | The facility is home to a U.S. Space Force ground tracking station in support of the Eastern Range and rocket launches from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. |
 Bahamas |
Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center | AUTEC is a laboratory that performs integrated three-dimensional hydrospace/aerospace trajectory measurements covering the entire spectrum of undersea simulated warfare. Its mission is to assist in establishing and maintaining naval ability of the United States through testing, evaluation, and underwater research. |
  Canada |
CFB North Bay | North Bay's air force base is the centre for the air defence of the entire Canada, and works in concert with the United States via NORAD for the air defence of Canada-U.S. portion of the North American continent. |
 Cuba |
Guantanamo Bay Naval Base | The military facility has over 8,500 U.S. sailors and Marines stationed there. |
 Curaçao (Netherlands) |
Curaçao International Airport | U.S. Air Force Forward Operating Base |
 El Salvador |
El Salvador International Airport | Cooperative Security Location of U.S. Southern Command |
 Greenland (Denmark) |
Pituffik Space Base | Around 150 people are stationed at Pituffik. The U.S. Space Force's northernmost base, and the northernmost installation of the U.S. Armed Forces. The base is home to a substantial portion of the global network of missile warning sensors of Space Delta 4, and space surveillance and space control sensors of Space Delta 2, providing space awareness and advanced missile detection capabilities to North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the United States Space Force, and joint partners. |
 Honduras |
Soto Cano Air Base | Soto Cano Air Base houses 1,200–1,500 U.S. troops and is also used by the Honduran Air Force academy. |
Asia
| Country | Location | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Bahrain |
Naval Support Activity Bahrain; Isa Air Base | Naval Support Activity Bahrain is home to approximately 8,500 military personnel. The mission of NSA Bahrain is to provide Operational Support to U.S. and Coalition Forces operating throughout the United States Central Command area of responsibility.[113] |
 British Indian Ocean Territory (UK) |
Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia, Camp Thunder Cove | United States forces have used Diego Garcia since at least the mid-1960s, under lease from the United Kingdom. The island has port facilities and an airstrip capable of handling large aircraft. Currently, 1,700 military personnel reside there. |
| Iraq |
Al Asad Airbase[114] | See also: List of United States military installations in Iraq |
 Israel |
Dimona Radar Facility[115] | A radar facility near Dimona, owned and operated by the United States. |
 Japan |
United States Forces Japan | There are 54,000 U.S. military personnel based in Japan – the highest number stationed anywhere overseas.[116] |
| Jordan |
Muwaffaq Salti Air Base | Jordan hosts about 3,000 American troops.[117] Muwaffaq Salti Air Base is reported to host several MQ-9 Reaper drones, based on satellite imagery.[118] The base is partly operated by the 407th Air Expeditionary Group.[119][120] |
 Kuwait |
Ali Al Salem Air Base; Camp Arifjan; Camp Buehring; Kuwait Naval Base | Approximately 13,500 U.S. forces are based in Kuwait, primarily at Camp Arifjan and Ali al-Salem Air Base.[121] |
| Oman |
RAFO Masirah; RAFO Thumrait (South of Oman)[citation needed] | |
| Qatar |
Al Udeid Air Base | Al Udeid Air Base is the biggest U.S. military installation in the Middle East and can house more than 10,000 U.S. troops.[122] |
 Saudi Arabia |
Prince Sultan Air Base[123] | More than 2,700 U.S. forces are stationed at the Prince Sultan Air Base.[124][125] |
 Singapore |
Paya Lebar Air Base, Changi Naval Base, Changi Air Base | Singapore hosts more than 800 U.S. military personnel.[126] |
 South Korea |
United States Forces Korea | Approximately 28,500 U.S. troops are based in South Korea. |
| Syria |
Military base in Al-Tanf and several facilities in northern Syria, within U.S.-backed SDF territory[127] | Approximately 900 U.S. troops remain in Syria. [128][129] |
 Thailand |
U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield[130] | The extent of the US presence here is disputed but according to Politico, the Pentagon rents space from a contractor at U-Tapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield, allowing officials to say there's no official "base."[130] |
| United Arab Emirates |
Al Dhafra Air Base | The UAE hosts 5,000 US military personnel at Al Dhafra Air Base.[131] |
Europe
Oceania
| Country | Location | Details |
|---|---|---|
 Australia |
Pine Gap; Marine Rotational Force – Darwin[137] | Pine Gap consist of a massive computer complex with 38 radomes protecting radio dishes[138] and operates with over 800 employees.[139] The location is strategically significant because it controls United States spy satellites as they pass over one-third of the globe, including China, North Korea, the Asian parts of Russia, and the Middle East.[138] Central Australia was chosen because it was too remote for spy ships passing in international waters to intercept its signals.[140]: p 45–46 [141]: p xxi
One of its roles is to detect and geolocate the source of electronic signals, such as those emitted by mobile phones. This information is used by the US military to identify and geolocate targets of interest, which it can then attack using special forces or lethal unmanned drones, for example.[142] |
 Marshall Islands |
Kwajalein Airfield, Kwajalein Atoll | United States Army airfield, the entirety of Kwajalein Atoll is a military base. |
- What are here termed "named bases" are the bases listed in section X: "Personnel Data from DMDC", i.e. excluding that table's rows labelled "Other", in the 2015 DoD Base Structure Report.
- The 2015 U.S. Base Structure Report gives 587 overseas sites, but sites are merely real property at a distinct geographical location, and multiple sites may belong to one installation (page DoD-3). For example, the Garmisch, Germany "named base" with its 72 personnel has eight distinct sites large enough to be listed in the Army's Individual Service Inventory list: Artillery Kaserne, Breitenau Skeet Range, Garmisch Family Housing, Garmish Golf Course, General Abrams Hotel And Disp, Hausberg Ski Area, Oberammergau NATO School, and Sheridan Barracks (listed in Army-15 to Army-17). These range in size from Ramstein AB with 9,188 active, guard/reserve, and civilian personnel down to Worms, which has just one civilian.
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