Home Page | List of countries with overseas military bases
This is a list of countries with overseas military bases.
Background
Pituffik Space Base, the largest United States overseas military base by area, at 66,000 hectares.
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, India and France still possess or utilize a substantial number of them. Smaller numbers of overseas military bases are operated by China, Iran, 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" 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.
Australia
Country
Location
Details
Malaysia
Butterworth Air Base
Used by Australia's Commitment to the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA). 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.
Philippines
TBD
Australia will get access to a number of Filipino bases under an upcoming cooperation agreement.
Papua New Guinea
Lombrum Naval Base and others to be decided under the Pukpuk treaty.
Under expansion. Pukpuk treaty signed in 2025 will give Australia 'unimpeded access' to a number of PNG bases.
Singapore
TBD
Mentioned by Singapore PM Lawrence Wong in September 2025.
Bangladesh
Country
Details
Kuwait
a Bangladeshi military contingent (BMC) has resided in Kuwait since the end of the 1991 Gulf War to assist the Kuwait Armed Forces in logistics and other sectors under a bilateral agreement.
China
Country
Location
Details
Cambodia
Preah Sihanouk province
China-backed expansions at the Ream Naval Base have been characterized by some as a base for the People's Liberation Army Navy but disputed by others. Cambodia's government emphasizes that the naval base is under Cambodian control.
Djibouti
Djibouti City
People's Liberation Army Support Base, officially China's only overseas military base as of 2024
Tajikistan
Gorno-Badakhshan
The Chinese and Tajik governments deny the existence of one base, while the other was under construction as of 2024. China funds but does not directly own the bases. According to reports they are intended to support joint operations in response to the security situation in Afghanistan.
France
Country
Location
Details
Germany
French Forces and Civilian Elements stationed in Germany (FFECSA)
Djibouti
Djibouti
French forces in Djibouti
Gabon
French elements in Gabon (EFG)
United Arab Emirates
Naval base in Abu Dhabi
Germany
Country
Location
Details
France
Illkirch-Graffenstaden
Light Infantry Battalion 291, part of the Franco-German Brigade
Lithuania
Rūdninkai Training Area
Lithuanian military facility which, from 2025 onwards, will host 45th Panzer Brigade (Bundeswehr)
Greece
Country
Location
Details
Cyprus
Nicosia
Hellenic Force in Cyprus
India
Country
Location
Details
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.
Madagascar
A listening post and a radar facility in northern Madagascar
Oman
Ras al Hadd and Muscat
A listening post and berthing rights for the Indian Navy.
Mauritius
Agaléga
India has been funding the construction of 3000 m long airfield with associated facilities to house troops.
India and Mauritius have agreed on setting up a satellite tracking station in Chagos Islands near a US-UK strategic base, Diego Garcia.
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.
Iran
Country
Location
Details
Iraq
Al Anbar and Salah al-Din
Military facilities and training base of supported militias
Alleged use by the Israeli Air Force since 2012, including potential transfer of helicopter search and rescue and F-35 fighter jet units. Denied by Azerbaijan and Israel.
180 personnel and other bases in permanent training and advisory roles, under a 1982 agreement.
Russia
Country
Location
Details
Armenia
Gyumri
102nd Military Base and 3624th Airbase
Belarus
Baranavichy and Vileyka
Hantsavichy Radar Station, Vileyka naval communication centre
Burkina Faso
Central African Republic
Joint Russo-CAR training base in Berengo
Georgia
4th Military Base and 7th Military Base in the Russian-occupied regions of disputed South Ossetia and Abkhazia
Kazakhstan
Sary Shagan range, Baikonur Cosmodrome
Kyrgyzstan
Kant Air Base
338th naval communication centre, 954th torpedo testing range and a seismograph
Mali
Moldova
Cobasna
A sizeable military force in the unrecognised state of Transnistria. These forces guard Cobasna ammunition depot.
Niger
Russian forces were moved into bases currently used by U.S. forces after the military took control of Niger during the 2023 Nigerian coup d'état.
Syria
Khmeimim Air Base
Tajikistan
Dushanbe
201st Military Base
Ukraine
Sevastopol Naval Base
Russian-occupied territories
Singapore
Country/Territory
Location
Details
Brunei
Jalan Aman Camp
Thailand
Sai Yok Camp
Turkey
Country
Location
Details
Albania
Pasha Liman Base
24 troops and 2 frigates. 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.
Azerbaijan
Nasosnaya Air Base, Baku Gizil Sherg
Buildings and structures in Gizil Sherg military town, and one terminal building located in the airfield in Hacı Zeynalabdin settlement called Nasosnaya Air Base.
The Turkish Armed Forces will receive two military bases in Chad, near the borders with Libya and Sudan.
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.
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. As of 2020, Turkey has a military base with 2,000 personnel garrisoned with around 60 tanks, Armoured personnel carriers and one commando battalion. Turkey has more than 40+ military and intelligence bases scattered all around Iraq, the most out of any country. There are plans to build a new base in the Metina area of Duhok governorate in Iraqi Kurdistan Region as of April 2021. In total, Turkey has stationed around 5,000 to 10,000 soldiers in Iraq.
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.
Libya
Tripolitania: al-Watiya, Mitiga, Misrata and Zwara
The number of Turkish soldiers stationed in Libya is unknown.
Qatar
Doha: Katar TSK Kara Unsur Komutanlığı
5,000 personnel.
Somalia
Mogadishu: Camp TURKSOM
2,000 personnel.
Sudan
Suakin, Khartoum
On 17 January 2018, as part of a rapprochement with Sudan, Turkey was granted a 99-year lease over Suakin island. Turkey plans to restore the ruined Ottoman port city on the island.
5,000 personnel in Euphrates Shield and Olive Branch regions. New bases were followed at south of Afrin canton in Atme and Darat Izza There are 114 Turkish bases in Syria as of January 2022. 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. Altogether, there are an estimated 10,500 Turkish soldiers and 250 tanks stationed in Turkish existence of northern Syria. These numbers are constantly subject to modifications.
United Arab Emirates
Country
Location
Details
Libya
Al-Khadim Airport near Marj.
A forward operating base
Yemen
Socotra and Perim
Partial military base and air base.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has thirteen overseas military bases.
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 February 2025). 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. 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. Approximately 200 personnel work at the site.
Djibouti
Camp Lemonnier, CSL Chabelley
Camp Lemonnier is the largest U.S. base in Africa with more than 4,000 military personnel.
Kenya
Camp Simba
Second largest U.S. base in Africa. Over 600 U.S. military personnel work at Camp Simba.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Jordan
Muwaffaq Salti Air Base
Jordan hosts about 3,000 American troops. Muwaffaq Salti Air Base is reported to host several MQ-9 Reaper drones, based on satellite imagery. The base is partly operated by the 407th Air Expeditionary Group.
Approximately 13,500 U.S. forces are based in Kuwait, primarily at Camp Arifjan and Ali al-Salem Air Base.
Philippines
Antonio Bautista Air Base; Basa Air Base; Benito Ebuen Air Base; Fort Magsaysay; Lumbia Airport; Balabac Island; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz; Lal-lo Airport; Naval Base Camilo Osias
The Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement allows US forces and contractors to operate out of agreed-upon Philippines bases. The first five listed were part of the initial agreement (2014) and the latter four were added in 2023.
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.
Saudi Arabia
Prince Sultan Air Base
More than 2,700 U.S. forces are stationed at the Prince Sultan Air Base.
Singapore
Paya Lebar Air Base, Changi Naval Base, Changi Air Base
Singapore hosts more than 800 U.S. military personnel, civilians, and family members.
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
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."
United Arab Emirates
Al Dhafra Air Base
The UAE hosts 5,000 US military personnel at Al Dhafra Air Base.
Europe
Country
Location
Details
Albania
SOCEUR base under construction in Tirana
Belgium
Chièvres Air Base; Kleine Brogel Air Base
Bosnia and Herzegovina
NATO Headquarters Sarajevo
Bulgaria
Aitos Logistics Center; Bezmer Air Base; Graf Ignatievo Air Base; Novo Selo Range
Akrotiri and Dhekelia (UK)
RAF Akrotiri
Estonia
Ämari Air Base
Germany
U.S. Military Installations in Germany; Panzer Kaserne; Ramstein Air Base; Spangdahlem Air Base; Baumholder Army Post; Landstuhl Regional Medical Center; Sembach Army Post;
Greece
Alexandroupoli Army Base, Larisa Air Base, Araxos Air Base, Syros base, Souda Bay Naval Base
Iceland
Naval Air Station Keflavík
Italy
Caserma Ederle-Caserma Del Din; Darby Military Community; Naval Air Station Sigonella; Naval Support Activity Naples; Aviano Air Base
Kosovo
Camp Bondsteel
Lithuania
Camp Herkus, Pabradė
Netherlands
Volkel Air Base; USCG Activities Europe
Norway
Marine Corps garrison at Værnes Air Station
Poland
Camp Kościuszko; Powidz Air Base; Łask Air Base; NSF Redzikowo
Portugal
Lajes Field
Romania
Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base; Câmpia Turzii Air Base; Deveselu Military Base; Cincu Training Center
Pine Gap consists of a massive computer complex with 38 radomes protecting radio dishes and operates with over 800 employees. 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. Central Australia was chosen because it was too remote for spy ships passing in international waters to intercept its signals.: p 45–46 : 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.
Marshall Islands
Kwajalein Airfield, Kwajalein Atoll
United States Army airfield, the entirety of Kwajalein Atoll is a military base.
See also
Power projection
Mobile offshore base
Military base
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