This is a list of countries with overseas military bases.
Background
The establishment of military bases abroad enables a country to project power, e.g., to conduct expeditionary warfare, to influence events abroad. Depending on their size and infrastructure, they can be 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. These bases have helped them to achieve political and military goals.
At one time, the establishment of coaling stations for naval ships was important. The United Kingdom and other colonial powers established overseas military bases in many of their colonies during the First and Second World Wars. During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union established military bases within their respective spheres of influence.
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"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. with active duty, national guard, reserve, or civilian personnel as of September 2014. Its largest, in terms of personnel, was Ramstein AB in Germany, with almost 9,200 personnel.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.
Argentina CountryLocation Details Gonaïves They provided assistance in delivering drinking water, medical aid, infrastructure improvements, and maintaining security and order. Argentina had been providing this assistance since 2004; the contingents rotated every six months and were composed of members of the Argentine Army and Navy.«MINUSTAH». argentina.gob.ar. Consultado el 24 de marzo de 2021
Australia CountryLocation Details Butterworth Air BaseUsed by Australia's Commitment to the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA). The Australian Army maintains an infantry designated company (Rifle Company Butterworth) at Butterworth, Malaysia for training purposes. Al Minhad Air BaseSupports Australian operations in the Middle East.TBDIn 2025, Australia was granted access to a number of Filipino bases under an upcoming cooperation agreement.Lombrum Naval Base and others to be decided under the Pukpuk treaty.Under expansion. The Pukpuk treaty signed in 2025 will give Australia 'unimpeded access' to several PNG bases.TBDMentioned by Singapore PM Lawrence Wong in September 2025.
Bangladesh Country Details 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 CountryLocation DetailsPreah Sihanouk provinceChina-funded expansions at the Ream Naval Base characterized as a base for the People's Liberation Army Navy. Cambodia's government emphasizes that the naval base is under joint control. Djibouti CityPeople's Liberation Army Support Base, China's inaugural overseas military base. Gorno-Badakhshan Unofficial joint base intended to support operations in response to the security situation in Afghanistan, see .Vientiane provinceJointly maintained and operated training center and aviation academy facilities at the Ban Keun Airport.
France
CountryLocation Details French Forces and Civilian Elements stationed in Germany (FFECSA) DjiboutiFrench forces in Djibouti. French elements in Gabon (EFG). Naval base in Abu Dhabi.
Germany Country Location Details Illkirch-Graffenstaden Light Infantry Battalion 291, part of the Franco-German Brigade Rūdninkai Training Area Lithuanian military facility which, from 2025 onwards, will host 45th Panzer Brigade (Bundeswehr)
Greece CountryLocation Details Nicosia Hellenic Force in Cyprus.
India
CountryLocation Details Haa and Thimphu The Indian Military Training Team (IMTRAT) is permanently stationed in western Bhutan. The Indian Army also maintains a detachment in the capital city of Thimphu. MadagascarA listening post and a radar facility in northern Madagascar. Ras al Hadd and MuscatA listening post and berthing rights for the Indian Navy. Agaléga In 2022, India was funding the construction of a 3,000 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. Mahe, Alphonse, Farquhar, Astove and Assumption Island In 2022, the Indian government supported the construction of six coastal surveillance radars, which are linked to the Indian surveillance system.
Israel CountryLocation Details SyriaMachne Yarden, Camp Filon and Camp YitzhakIsraeli-occupied territories in the Golan Heights.Ten bases in Quneitra and Daraa governoratesIsraeli invasion of Syria (2024–present).
Italy CountryLocation Details Djibouti City National Military Support Base. Diori Hamani International AirportBilateral Support Mission in Niger
Japan CountryLocation Details Ambouli Japan Self-Defense Force Base Djibouti.Djibouti: Changing Influence in the Horn's Strategic Hub , chathamhouse.org, David Styan, April 2013 ("Having temporarily used US facilities, a Japanese base, situated close to Camp Lemonnier, opened in July 2011. Around 600 members of its Maritime Self-Defence Forces rotate between Japan's naval vessels operating from the port of Djibouti and the camp. Naval units protecting Japanese shipping in the region had operated out of the US base before 2011. Japan is reported to pay an annual rent of $30 million for the facilities, similar to the sums paid for either of the far larger US and French bases. This has led to an expansion of Japan's civilian aid programme to Djibouti, which has also become a hub for wider development activities in the Horn by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.")
Pakistan
CountryLocation Details Tabuk 180 personnel and other bases in permanent training and advisory roles, under a 1982 agreement.
Russia
CountryLocation Details Gyumri 102nd Military Base and 3624th Airbase Baranavichy and VileykaHantsavichy Radar Station, Vileyka naval communication centre Joint Russo-CAR training base in Berengo 4th Military Base and 7th Military Base in the Russian-occupied regions of disputed South Ossetia and Abkhazia Sary Shagan range, Baikonur Cosmodrome Kant Air Base 338th naval communication centre, 954th torpedo testing range and a seismograph CobasnaA sizeable military force in the unrecognised state of Transnistria. These forces guard Cobasna ammunition depot. Russian forces were moved into bases currently used by U.S. forces after the military took control of Niger during the 2023 Nigerien coup d'état. Syria Khmeimim Air Base and Tartus naval base Dushanbe 201st Military Base
Singapore
Country/TerritoryLocation Details Jalan Aman Camp Sai Yok Camp
Turkey
CountryLocation Details 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. 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. Abeche and Faya-Largeau base. The Turkish Armed Forces will receive two military bases in Chad, near the borders with Libya and Sudan. Northern Cyprus A total of 35,000 to 40,000 armed forces of Turkey are currently on active duty Cyprus Turkish Peace Force Command in the de facto state Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. 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. Prizren: Sultan Murat Kışlası, MamushaAn estimated 321 troops serve in the Kosovo Security Battalion command for UNMIK mission and KFOR peacekeeping force's. Tripolitania: al-Watiya, Mitiga, Misrata and ZwaraThe number of Turkish soldiers stationed in Libya is unknown. Doha: Katar TSK Kara Unsur Komutanlığı 5,000 personnel. Mogadishu: Camp TURKSOM2,000 personnel.Suakin, KhartoumOn 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. Syria Turkish army 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 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
CountryLocation Details Al-Khadim Airport near Marj. A forward operating base
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has thirteen overseas military bases. CountryLocationDetailsPrice Barracks, LadyvilleBritish Army Training and Support Unit BelizeMina SalmanUnited Kingdom Naval Support FacilitySeriaBritish Forces BruneiCFB SuffieldBritish Army Training Unit SuffieldTroodos StationBritish Forces CyprusWestfalen GarrisonBritish Army GermanyNanyukiBritish Army Training Unit KenyaPokhara Camp, Dharan StationBritish Gurkhas NepalBardufoss Air Station and Camp VikingCamp Viking opened in 2023.DuqmOmani-British Joint Training Area and the UK Joint Logistics Support BaseRAF Al UdeidSembawang Naval BaseBritish Defence Singapore Support UnitAl Minhad Air BaseDonnelly Lines
United States