3. 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
4. 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)
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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)
8. Monroe Doctrine
USA will not tolerate outside
interference into the affairs of
Western Hemisphere.
9. Monroe Doctrine
The above hypothetical line divides the World into two
halves, i.e Western and Eastern Hemishpere
10. 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).
18. 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.
19. 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.