Overseas Military Bases by Country 2024

The United States has more overseas military bases than any other country in the world. In 2023, the US had 750 military bases in 80 countries.

The United States has so many bases partly because it became a global peacekeeper after World War II. The Korean War, the Cold War, and the threat of the spread of Communism resulted in the creation of even more bases. The War on Terrorism has led to the creation of many bases in the Middle East.

The US still has more than 30 bases in Okinawa, Japan, alone. It also has several bases in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific. One of the largest bases is Ramstein AB in Germany, which has more than 9,000 troops.

The Russian Federation also has many military bases abroad, including several in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Many are in former Soviet-bloc countries.

The United Kingdom has about 145 military installations in other countries. Many of these bases are in nations that are still British territories, such as the Falklands, the British Indian Ocean Territory, and Gibraltar. It also has several bases in countries that are tax havens, such as the Cayman Islands. The United Kingdom also has 17 bases in Cyprus, 16 in Oman, and 15 in Saudi Arabia. Finally, its military presence is significant in Africa.

Turkey also has a substantial number of bases in foreign countries and more in Iraq than any other country. Turkey also has 30,000 to 40,000 troops in Northern Cyprus, which is the most of any foreign location. Other bases are throughout Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and, to a lesser extent, Eastern Europe.

France has many bases abroad, especially in the French-speaking nations of Africa. These bases come out of the French colonial tradition on that continent. France has recently begun a campaign to reduce the number of troops in Francophone Africa.