Wednesday, May 8, 2019

The twenty largest US military bases outside the US

These are the twenty largest US military bases, by area.
Source: https://247wallst.com/special-report/2019/04/08/americas-largest-military-bases-around-the-world/

20. Yong Pyong, South Korea; 3,346 acres; Army
19. Morón Air Base, Spain;  3,428 acres; Air Force
18. Ascension Auxiliary Airfield, Ascension Island (UK);  3,463 acres; Air Force
17. Misawa Air Base, Japan;  3,864 acres; Air Force
16. Kadena Air Base, Japan (Okinawa);  Base size: 4,906 acres
15. Naval Communication Station Harold E. Holt, Exmouth, Australia; 5,099 acres; Navy
14. Camp Schwab, Japan (Okinawa); 5,397 acres; Marine Corp
13. NS Rota, Spain; 5,962 acres; Navy
12. Kadena Ammunitions Storage Annex, Japan (Okinawa);  6,077 acres;  Air Force
11. Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia, Diego Garcia; Base size: 7,000 acres;  Navy
10. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan;  7,111 acres; Marine Corps
9. Commander Fleet Activities Sasebo, Japan; 7,733 acres;  Navy
8. Camp Gonsalves, Japan (Okinawa);  9,040 acres;  Marine Corps
7. Camp Hansen, Japan (Okinawa);  12,037 acres;  Marine Corps
6. Camp Santiago, Puerto Rico; 14,650 acres;  San Juan; Army
5. Naval Base Guam Tinian, Northern Mariana Islands; 15,119 acres;  Navy
4. Anderson Air Force Base, Guam;  16,117 acres; Navy
3. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (Gitmo), Cuba; 28,817 acres; Navy
2. Camp Fuji Japan, Japan; 33,384 acres; Marine Corps.  (Wikipedia claims it is only 309 acres).
1. Thule Air Base, Greenland; 233,034 acres; Air Force

So some questions.  Can any of these be shut down? Does the military pay rent on any of these?  Could some of these be considered semi-sovereign territories of the US?

I don't think the military pays rent on any of these.  I think there are sovereignty concerns about Gitmo and about Okinawa.   Okinawa is arguably a colony of Japan that it conquered about 1872.  And the U.S. bases in Okinawa are partially an occupation force.  The U.S. controlled Okinawa until 1972.  But they are very close to Taiwan and China so have a high strategic value.

Now, a thought experiment.  You have to close one of these.  Which one and why?  My vote is for the Kadena Ammunitions Storage Annex in Okinawa.  Apparently, most of it is forest.  The US should reduce its presence in Okinawa, and this seems like the easiest one to close.  Maybe keep about 100 acres and return the rest.

No comments:

Post a Comment