👀 Mapping the U.S. Military’s Reach Across the World
What We’re Showing:
This graphic locates 128 known overseas bases of the American military, categorised by who controls the base, as well as lists the number of overseas American troops.
Data is sourced from a Congressional report published in July, 2024.
Troop figures are from the Defense Manpower Data Center, current to March 2024.
ℹ️ This map does not include several hundred temporary sites.
🪖 U.S. Military Priorities: Europe and East Asia
From a glance, most of the overseas U.S. military presence is located in two main theatres: Europe and Asia.
In fact, just three countries (Japan, South Korea, and Germany) account for nearly 75% of all troops stationed abroad.
Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines also have the most number of overseas bases (though many of them are controlled by host militaries).
🫡 Middle East: A Growing Hotspot
Operational footholds are also popping up in the Middle East, hosted by key American allies: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain
The Americas itself have much smaller presence, though the infamous Guantanamo Bay can be located in Cuba