US military bases in the world

To date, there is information that the US military bases are represented by a number that has exceeded one thousand. But this version is not official. The Pentagon itself recognizes just over seven hundred military bases.

In fact, the existence of such military organizations around the world makes the United States a global empire that does not seize the state entirely, but simply places its bases there, thereby establishing control over the country. In simple words, a "facilitated" version of colonialism is obtained.

The history of the emergence of US military bases

The appearance of the very first military bases dates back to the end of the 19th century, namely, in 1898. After Spain was defeated in the American-Spanish war, the States gained control of the seaport in the Philippines. This is Subic Bay, which, thanks to its favorable location, allows you to control the movement of Chinese ships.

Control over the Caribbean Sea was provided by the US military bases stationed in Guantanamo, as well as in Puerto Rico.

During the Second World War, the United States was given the right to deploy its bases on the territory of the member states of the anti-Hitler coalition, and also to use their ports. The very first countries that "admitted" America to themselves are England and France. However, after the end of the war, the Americans did not stop their activities, but, on the contrary, new bases began to appear in Belgium, Iceland and other European countries. Later, US military bases appeared in Germany, Italy, Japan and the South Korean peninsula. The reason was the beginning of the Cold War. As an excuse, the Americans began to use confrontation with the socialist camp. The US guaranteed protection against the penetration of the communist system into European countries, as well as to avoid the emergence of revanchist sentiments on the part of the losers of Germany and Japan.

In only European countries, the spread of US military bases did not end. Later they began to appear in the Middle Eastern countries. The goal was to ensure the security of oil transit, as well as contain Iran and Iraq as aggressive states.

Large military bases

To date, there is a classification that divides all US military bases into three categories.

Large bases are located on the territory of Japan, Great Britain, Honduras and Qatar, Germany and on the island of Guam. Their characteristic feature is that there are stockpiles of equipment, raw materials and weapons in large quantities, and there is also a certain number of military contingents. Moreover, it is possible to accommodate, house a large number of servicemen arriving at the base if necessary.

It should be noted the US military bases in Japan, the presence of which plays a key role in the control of the territory of South-East Asia. They were placed after the conclusion of the 1951-1952 agreements, according to which the United States guaranteed the protection of the Land of the Rising Sun from anyone's encroachments. In fact, these bases pursued another goal: the Japanese state was involved in a confrontation with the Soviet Union and the Asian socialist regimes, and was used as a springboard for fighting communism.

Today, US military bases are still located in these territories. In Japan, the number of such almost reaches hundreds - only 94 bases. The strength of the military contingent is about 50 thousand people. The official purpose of the presence is the preservation of a stable peace, and in fact - the control over the territory.

Operational bases

This kind of military bases differs from large ones in that they have a much smaller number of resources. Their functional activities are also limited, and the main purpose of operational bases is tactical. Examples include military bases in Australia, Bulgaria, Kuwait, or South Korea. The mission of Americans on the South Korean peninsula is explained by the defense of the territory from military encroachment by its northern neighbor, the DPRK.

US military bases of the third category

The facilities, which are analytical centers, individual aerodromes or communication centers, can also be classified as military bases. They are mobile, their location can be zones of military clashes in order to be able to strike a point strike at the enemy. The creation of such small bases is currently a priority of the United States military policy. An example is the technology of creating "floating islands". These facilities are platforms located on the surface of water, and can serve as an airfield for military aircraft, and act as a transport ship.

Geographical location

US military bases are the most numerous in the world and make up 95% of all bases combined. The remaining share belongs to England, France and other countries.

Traditionally, it is believed that the place of deployment of US military bases is Western Europe. For example, in Germany there are more than two hundred, and the contingent of military personnel consists of 250 thousand people. However, after the collapse of the USSR, the Americans slightly weakened their activities in this region in connection with the neutralization of the Soviet threat.

Of particular importance to America are the military bases located in South-East Asia and the territory of Middle Eastern countries. On the second place after Germany in terms of the number of the US military presence is Japan.

Turkey occupies a very favorable geostrategic position, one part of which is located on the European part of the continent and the other part in Asia. In this regard, Turkey is of particular interest to the United States. This state is a member of NATO, which means that there are US military bases in Turkey. For example, the Incirlik base - there since 2014, the US deploys unmanned aerial vehicles to strike at terrorists - the Islamic state.

In fact, in one or another quantity, but the US bases are represented practically in all corners of the planet.

The geopolitical location of US military bases

All states where the United States has deployed its military bases can be divided into several categories. Criterion is the political relationships of countries.

1. Allied countries, friendly states. An example is Great Britain.
2. States that lost in the war, which were subsequently restored under the leadership of the United States. Example - Germany, Japan.
3. Countries liberated from the enemy with the help of US military forces. An example is South Korea.
4. Zones of military conflicts in which the United States took part, or carry out actions aimed at resolving the post-conflict situation. An example is Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo.
5. Zones of economically conditioned interest. These are countries that have energy potential. An example is the former Central Asian republics of the Soviet Union, Central-Eastern Asia.

Types of troops

The US military bases are equipped with various types of troops. This is the Air Force, represented by 27 bases in 15 countries. The US Navy is represented in nine states in the number of 15 bases. The ground forces are in eight countries of the world, and their total number is quite large - 82 military bases. The marines are deployed in seven countries, the largest in Japan and Iraq. Total bases of marines - 26.

The specified number of military units counts only those bases that are outside the United States.

US military bases and Russia

Speaking about the territory of the former USSR, the first military base appeared in 2001 in Uzbekistan (Khanabad), later the Americans settled in Kyrgyzstan (Manas). However, in Manas, the military base has been redeveloped to the center of transit traffic.

The US military bases in Russia are the subject of many political disputes. Not so long ago, the focus was on discussing the possible establishment of an American base near Ulyanovsk. It was assumed that the Americans would deliver through the airfield "Vostochny" medicaments and other goods that are not military, to the territory of Iraq and Afghanistan. However, later NATO representatives decided that it would be more profitable to transport cargo through Pakistan.