US Military presence around the globe

Pax Americana

WHY bases abroad?

Safe-guarding US National interests Early warning of hostile aggressive actions. Fulfillment of Defence alliances and Treaty

responsibilities Facilitate post-conflict occupation and

peace keeping operations Symbol of Power Maintain its sole super-power status by

containing potential competitors such as PRC.

PAX Americana

Vital US interests Safety and Security of US homeland, its citizens at

home and abroad, embassies and installations around the world.

no disruption of the trade and trade routes, specially oil supply routes (particularly the Middle Eastern oil supplies).

“In the Middle East our overall objective is to remain the predominant outside power in the region and preserve U.S. and Western access to the region's oil.”

(Paul Wolfowitz- leading US Policy maker during George W Bush presidency)

Early Warning and Preventive measures against hostile acts

USA can have early warning of any potential hostile action by other states that can harm vital US interests.

With the use of these far-off military bases USA can respond in time by either preventing /disrupting/stopping such hostile action in the tracks.

Fulfillment of Defence alliances and Treaty responsibilities

NATO (1949) ANZUS (1951) SEATO (1954 .. expired 1977) CENTO (1955 .. expired 1979) Individual security guarantees to

Japan, South Korea, and as a special case Taiwan.

Post Conflict Occupation/ Peacekeeping

Afghanistan - Since Oct 2001-till present (though 2015 onwards US has declared to station only limited troops , approx 9 to 12 thousands)

Iraq (March 2003 till Dec 2011)

Monroe Doctrine

USA will not tolerate outside interference into the affairs of Western Hemisphere.

Monroe DoctrineThe above hypothetical line divides the World into two halves, i.e Western and Eastern Hemishpere

Pax Americana

Pax Americana denotes an era of relative Peace and Stability in the World since the end of World War-II in 1945, coinciding with the dominant military and economic position of the United States.

During this period of Pax Americana, no armed conflict has emerged among major Western nations themselves, and no nuclear weapons have been used, although the United States and its allies have been involved in various regional wars (such as the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Gulf War, Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq).

US military personnel

1.3 million total 325,000 abroad

Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean

Japan South Korea Guam Singapur Thailand Diego-Garcia

South Asia & Central Asia

Pakistan Afghanistan Kyrgyzstan Uzbekistan (till 2005) Tajikistan (till 2014)

Aircraft carriers

Aircraft Carriers

Aircraft carriers-a comparison

Country In Service

United States 15United Kingdom 2Italy 2India 1France 1Spain 1China 1Russia 1Brazil 1

US Central Command (Centcom)

Centcom covers Middle East, Central Asia as well as few parts of South Asia. Its main Head-quarters are in Florida(USA), its second/Operational Head-Quarters are in Qatar.

The following 20 states comes under the area of responsibility of CENTCOM: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Oman, Yemen, KSA, Jordon, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt.

Centcom

Beside the 20 sates Centcom area of responsibility also include Red Sea and Persian Gulf, and north-western portions of the Indian Ocean. Israel and Turkey are the only countries of Middle East which are not covered by Centcom. These two states are covered by European Command (USEUCOM).

Syria and Lebanon previously in USEUCOM are now included in CENTCOM since 2004.

Egypt is the only country of Africa which is covered by CENTCOM.

US Centcom

All commands together:

US military Commands