Military

Oldest US Military Bases Abroad

24/7 Wall St. Staff

Published: June 13, 2024 1:10 pm

In April 2024, rockets were fired at a US military base in Syria from Iraq. A source close to the situation told a reporter more than five rockets were fired, but there were no injuries to American personnel. United States forces have been the target of increased attacks since the war in Gaza began in October 2023. With over 750 bases across 80 countries globally, it is not necessarily shocking to learn of US forces being targeted in at least one of those locations at any given time.

The majority of American bases are found within the contiguous United States, followed by Europe and Southeast Asia. Camp Humphreys calls Southeast Asia home and is one of the largest US military bases abroad, but it is not the oldest, having opened in 1950. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the study, U.S. Military Bases Abroad, 1776-2021, by David Vine, professor at the Department of Anthropology at American University, to determine America’s oldest overseas military bases. We ranked the bases according to the year they opened, listing the 23 bases founded by 1943 at the latest. Data on the number of active-duty personnel and bases within each country and estimated land acreage of each base came from the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, a military think-tank.

Why Are We Writing About US Military Bases Abroad?

Source: BWP Media / Getty Images

This list is comprised of 23 bases, of which 13 are located in Puerto Rico and operated by the Army, Navy, and Air Force. The US usually establishes bases where the need to secure a position or to maintain assets makes it necessary to have American personnel and supplies in place. Puerto Rico holds an important strategic position between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. The first of these was constructed in 1902. In the wake of the United States’ victory over Spain in the Spanish-American War in 1898, Puerto Rico was one of the territories it received. Following that war, Cuba gained independence from Spain and agreed to lease Guantánamo Bay to the U.S. Navy on its southeastern shore in 1903. Other possessions the US secured from Spain in the Pacific – Guam and Wake Island – have military bases. Four of America’s oldest overseas bases are in the United Kingdom, established there just after America entered the war in 1941. That same year, the U.S. began leasing the Thule Air Base in Greenland from Denmark, which, at more than 233,000 acres, is by far the largest overseas military base by physical size.

Here are America’s oldest military bases abroad.

23. RAF Welford Ammo Storage Area, United Kingdom

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

The RAF Welford Ammo Storage Area sits on 736 acres in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom opened in 1943. A total of 25 bases with 10,770 active duty personnel are in the UK,  the seventh most out of 80 countries with US bases.

22. RAF Feltwell, United Kingdom

Source: Bob Jones / Wikimedia Commons

Located in Thetford, United Kingdom, the RAF Feltwell base was opened in 1942. It sits on an estimated 305 acres of land. A total of 25 bases with 10,770 active duty personnel are in the UK, the seventh most out of 80 countries with US bases.

21. RAF Molesworth, United Kingdom

Source: United States Army Air Forces via Wikimedia Commons

Opening in 1942, the RAF Molesworth base is located in Molesworth, United Kingdom on 696 acres of land. A total of 25 bases with 10,770 active duty personnel are in the UK, the seventh most out of 80 countries with US bases.

20. RAF Alconbury, United Kingdom

Source: U.S. Air Force via Wikimedia Commons

The RAF Alconbury sits on 218 acres in Great Stukeley, United Kingdom, opened in 1942. A total of 25 bases with 10,770 active duty personnel are in the UK, the seventh most out of 80 countries with US bases.

19. Cabeza De Perro, Puerto Rico

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Located in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, the Cabeza De Perro base was opened in 1942. It sits on an estimated 29 acres of land. A total of 34 bases with 13,571 active duty personnel are in Puerto Rico, the sixth most out of 80 countries with US bases.

18. Wake Island Airfield, Wake Island

Source: Senior Airman Alexander W. Riedel, U.S. Air Force via Wikimedia Commons

Opening in 1941, the Wake Island Airfield base is located on 5 acres of land on Wake Island. One base with 2,600 active duty personnel is on Wake Island, tied for the fiftieth most out of 80 countries with US bases.

17. Vieques West, Puerto Rico

Source: Steven Isaacson / Wikimedia Commons

The Vieques West base sits on 275 acres in Vieques, Puerto Rico, and opened in 1941. A total of 34 bases with 13,571 active duty personnel are in Puerto Rico, the sixth most out of 80 countries with US bases.

16. Mount Pirata, Puerto Rico

Source: Bjoertvedt / Wikimedia Commons

Located in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, the Mount Pirata base was opened in 1941. It sits on an estimated 59 acres of land. A total of 34 bases with 13,571 active duty personnel are in Puerto Rico, the sixth most out of 80 countries with US bases.

15. Roosevelt Rds Naval Station USARC, Puerto Rico

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Opening in 1941, the Roosevelt Rods Naval Station USARC base is located in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, on 29 acres of land. A total of 34 bases with 13,571 active duty personnel are in Puerto Rico, the sixth most out of 80 countries with US bases.

14. Luis Munoz Marin IAP, Puerto Rico

Source: Mattes / Wikimedia Commons

The Luis Munoz Marin IAP base sits on 95 acres in Carolina, Puerto Rico, and opened in 1941. A total of 34 bases with 13,571 active duty personnel are in Puerto Rico, the sixth most out of 80 countries with US bases.

13. Fort Allen, Puerto Rico

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Located in Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico, the Fort Allen base was opened in 1941. It sits on an estimated 117 acres of land. A total of 34 bases with 13,571 active duty personnel are in Puerto Rico, the sixth most out of 80 countries with US bases.

12. Thule Greenland, Greenland (Denmark)

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Opening in 1941, the Thule Greenland base is located in North Star Bay, Greenland, on 233,034 acres of land. There is one base with 147 active duty personnel in Greenland, tied for the fiftieth most out of 80 countries with US bases.

11. Argentia Newfoundland, Canada

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

The Argentia Newfoundland base sits on 161 acres in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, and opened in 1941. A total of 3 bases with 185 active duty personnel are in Canada, tied for the thirty-fourth most out of 80 countries with US bases.

10. MTA Camp Santiago, Puerto Rico

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Located in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the MTA Camp Santiago base was opened in 1940. It sits on an estimated 14,650 acres of land. A total of 34 bases with 13,571 active duty personnel are in Puerto Rico, the sixth most out of 80 countries with US bases.

9. Salinas N00207, Puerto Rico

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Opening in 1940, the Salinas N00207 base is located in Salinas, Puerto Rico on 249 acres of land. A total of 34 bases with 13,571 active duty personnel are in Puerto Rico, the sixth most out of 80 countries with US bases.

8. Aguadilla, Puerto Rico

Source: alexandra oquendo / iStock via Getty Images

• Opening year: 1936
• Location: Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
• Active duty personnel in country: 13,571
• US bases in country: 34 — #6 most out of 80
• Land estimated acreage: 0 acres

7. Johnston Atoll Airfield, Johnston Atoll

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

The Johnston Atoll Airfield base sits on 684 acres of land on Johnston Atoll and opened in 1934. There is one base on Johnston Atoll, tied for the fiftieth most out of 80 countries with US bases.

6. Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Located in Guaynabo City, Puerto Rico, the Fort Buchanan base was opened in 1923. It sits on an estimated 1,635 acres of land. A total of 34 bases with 13,571 active duty personnel are in Puerto Rico, the sixth most out of 80 countries with US bases.

5. AMSA 161, Puerto Rico

Source: Madrican / Wikimedia Commons

Opening in 1923, the AMSA 161 base is located in Guaynabo City, Puerto Rico, on less than an acre of land. A total of 34 bases with 13,571 active duty personnel are in Puerto Rico, the sixth most out of 80 countries with US bases.

4. CPT Euripides Rubio Jr. USARC, Puerto Rico

Source: Ricardo Mangual via Wikimedia Commons

The CPT Euripides Rubio Jr. USARC base sits on 63 acres of land in Puerto Nuevo, Puerto Rico, and opened in 1922. A total of 34 bases with 13,571 active duty personnel are in Puerto Rico, the sixth most out of 80 countries with US bases.

3. Guantanamo Bay, Cuba

Source: PH2 JAMES SCHOOLE, U.S. Navy via Wikimedia Commons

Located in Guantanamo, Cuba, the Guantanamo Bay base was opened in 1903. It sits on an estimated 28,817 acres of land. There is one base with 1,004 active duty personnel in Cuba, tied for the fiftieth most out of 80 countries with US bases.

2. Mayaguez, Puerto Rico

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Opening in 1902, the Mayaguez base is located in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico on less than an acre of land. A total of 34 bases with 13,571 active duty personnel are in Puerto Rico, the sixth most out of 80 countries with US bases.

1. Agana, Guam

Source: Leonard M. Cox, "The Island of Guam" via Wikimedia Commons

The Agana base sits on 22 acres of land in Apra Harbor, Guam and opened in 1899. A total of 54 bases with 11,295 active duty personnel are in Guam, the forth most out of 80 countries with US bases.