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Countries with U.S. Troops

Name the countries of the world that contain a U.S. military presence of at least 600 active personnel.
As of March 31, 2022. Source: U.S. Department of Defense via Wikipedia
Countries with a ? reflect ongoing operations where the DoD no longer publishes an exact troop count
Quiz by Quizmaster
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Last updated: July 1, 2022
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First submittedDecember 29, 2012
Times taken101,789
Average score68.8%
Rating4.27
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Troops
Country
1,173,245
United States
55,666
Japan
36,160
Germany
25,726
South Korea
12,661
Italy
9,766
United Kingdom
3,746
Bahrain
3,108
Spain
Troops
Country
2,593
Norway
1,713
Turkey
1,137
Belgium
792
Australia
720
Kuwait
639
Cuba
?
Iraq
?
Syria
kalbahamut
+8
Level 83
Jan 16, 2013
Only 15% got Bahrain? There is a huge US presence there. The US Navy's 5th Fleet is there. It's the main foothold the Navy has in the Gulf. There is a larger Army presence in Kuwait, and an (unofficial- which I guess is why it's not counted here) air force presence in Saudi Arabia, but Bahrain is full of American seamen. It's funny 16% missed the USA, too. :D Though it took me a while to get it myself.
beetboy12
+105
Level 37
Jul 30, 2014
Most Americans have never even heard of Bahrain.
Quizzer6794
+5
Level 64
Apr 8, 2015
According to Dictionary.com, most speakers likely know this country.
cosmokim
+33
Level 65
Jan 14, 2016

That's honestly really offensive to us Americans...I admit that we can be ignorant and offensive at times but honestly. Give us some credit. If Americans were all stupid then we wouldn't have become one of the most technologically advanced countries in the world. Bahrain is one of those countries in the Middle East that has a ton of oil but is at high risk for war. I imagine that it's close enough to Syria and Israel to be affected negatively, and Kuwait is closer to it. What I find surprising is that all these tiny little countries with barely anything in them (sorry kalbahamut) have such a strong United States presence.

You'd think that countries like the UK, Spain, Italy, Japan, South Korea wouldn't need US aid because they are advanced and generally have a lot of power. Not to mention, recently they have been at peace with very few battles fought...although technically the Korean War is still going on. Belgium, for instance, is unlikely to be attacked by any countries.

AceHighNathan
+3
Level 21
Apr 10, 2023
I know this was back in 2016, but I would still like to reply. I am pretty good at geography, and most Americans are bad a geography. I asked this Mexican-American to name a country with the letter “B”, and she said “Belgium Muffles, I do not know.” And I said she was right, and she was surprised because she did not know Belgium was even a real country 🤦🏻‍♂️. Some are even bad at history. I asked an European-American who was a historical Austrian figure, and she could not name one, so I said “Ad0lf H¡tler”…

SHE DID NOT EVEN KNOW WHO THAT IS

I asked an African-American to name a country that has the letter “O” in it, and she AUSTRALIA, and another girl in the same chat said Oregon 🤣.

God have mercy on the Americans.

CaptainUnderpant
+1
Level 79
Nov 7, 2023
If you take offense at the American lack of basic geography and world history knowledge, take it up with the subpar education system and a society that values Super Bowl commercials and TikTok clout more than learning meaningful things about the world. I would wager money that more than a third of Americans do not know that Bahrain exists. Far fewer could tell you anything about it.
kalbahamut
+64
Level 83
Jan 16, 2016
As long as beetboy is willing to concede that most non-Americans have also never heard of Bahrain, I see no problem with the statement. I do doubt the majority of Americans know that Bahrain is a country. Having previously lived there, I know from experience.
Malbaby
+33
Level 71
Jan 16, 2016
cosmokim ....... UK, Italy etc do not need aid from US, nor do they receive it. The US has a presence in the European Countries mentioned for their own benefit. And are given permission by these European Countries so that they will have bases in Europe nearer to hot spots elsewhere.
kshanti
+11
Level 61
Jan 10, 2018
Belgium is on the list mainly because it has both the military and civilian NATO Headquarters in Europe.

Sure, compared to the US, we Europeans put a lot less money into military spending and you can criticize that. But the only time NATO has every been called to help and defend it's fellow member states was when the US was attacked on 9/11.

kogatora
+25
Level 92
Mar 10, 2019
If you have heard of Bahrain, but haven't been there it is hard to tell if there is a US presence or not - unless maybe you go on jetpunk and are told it is common knowledge
kalbahamut
+4
Level 83
Mar 11, 2019
I wouldn't call it common knowledge I was just surprised that 85% of JetPunkers couldn't guess it.
ander217
+3
Level 75
Apr 27, 2019
I knew it was a country but I'd never heard of anyone stationed there and would never have tried it. I missed three - I thought I'd already typed Kuwait, and I just thought of Iraq as time ran out - can't believe it took me that long to remember that one.
Regtheledge1000
+1
Level 30
Feb 23, 2020
True
Kyle72211
+26
Level 59
Oct 10, 2014
I believe most countries would like to be full of American Seaman.
KiwiTyke
+7
Level 60
Oct 8, 2015
I suspect a lot of countries feel like they might as well be full of American seamen.
jdmorgan
+18
Level 43
Feb 24, 2017
They'd be guaranteed support for at least 18 years.
communisteggplant
+5
Level 73
Jul 15, 2018
"Smithers, what do you think?" "I think women and seamen don't mix." "We know what you think!"
OneMoreDown
+2
Level 50
Oct 16, 2014
I missed it and was in Manama for R&R. The U.S. Presence is easy to miss even on the ground.
kalbahamut
+1
Level 83
Oct 17, 2014
Not in certain neighborhoods.. like Juffair where I had an apartment for 2 years.
Tooned
+3
Level 48
Oct 23, 2014
Sailors, not seamen lol
kalbahamut
+2
Level 83
Oct 31, 2014
actually both.
Liopleurodon
+14
Level 65
Jan 16, 2016
You don't get the joke do you............................
Slipsteen
+6
Level 76
Jan 14, 2016
Bahrain is full of American seamen? Gross.
kalbahamut
+18
Level 83
Jan 16, 2016
Bring clean sheets.
sloopjohnbee
+5
Level 49
Oct 9, 2017
next time, aim for the sock
5grader
+10
Level 24
Dec 11, 2017
r/IAmVerySmart
kalbahamut
+5
Level 83
Jan 10, 2018
And now we've apparently got some servicemen up in Djibouti. Only one I missed this time.
kalbahamut
+13
Level 83
Mar 10, 2019
Looks like they've since pulled out.
Jacktheguy
+12
Level 89
Apr 24, 2019
Yay! More innuendos!

...Wow I’m immature...

idontkn1
+3
Level 89
Apr 24, 2019
I don't think that's accurate. My sister in law was stationed in Djibouti through the Super Bowl. She left that Tuesday. I guess we could have ghost towned it in the past 2 months but she's been deployed there twice in the last 5 years so it is an ongoing station.
kalbahamut
+3
Level 83
Apr 24, 2019
In January 2018 when I left the first comment Djibouti was on the quiz. In March 2019 when I left the second, it was gone again. According to information I could find Camp Lemonnier is still in use and serves 2,500 American personnel but that includes civilians and I'm not sure what the ratio between troops and civilian contractors is, or how up-to-date that figure is.
ing
+1
Level 72
Aug 4, 2019
Camp Lemonnier is still there. The first thing you see when you get off at Djibouti airport is the American flag across the runway.
mf3
+1
Level 86
Jun 9, 2020
Yeah, well, now the Chinese are moving into Djibouti bigger than the US, demonstrating the layout of the new Trumpian world order.
kalbahamut
+4
Level 83
Jun 19, 2020
I don't like what you are implying about the size of Xi's hands in relation to the president's.
zer0cool
+2
Level 67
Jun 19, 2020
Are we not at the Al Udeid (sp?) airbase in Qatar anymore? I last flew out of there in 2008, but it was a giant air base.
mightythor
+1
Level 66
Jun 19, 2020
They were only there to make Djibouti shake.
toccina
+1
Level 64
Apr 24, 2019
Perhaps because there are not only Americans playing! Opening on the world :)
MimaYo
+2
Level 36
Apr 26, 2019
I know Bahrain exists, simply don't know anything about it. I will also admit that I didn't get the US itself, I was thinking about foreign countries.
Hollywood
+1
Level 62
Jul 24, 2019
Bahrain is the only one I missed, I had no idea our troops were there 🤔
ander217
+1
Level 75
Jun 19, 2020
I got Bahrain this time but forgot Japan.
perfectbalance
+1
Level 58
Jul 12, 2022
I knew a girl who moved to my town from Bahrain, because her dad was in the Navy.
paula05
+2
Level 35
Jan 16, 2013
8!
Mattar14
+9
Level 12
May 29, 2013
I can't believe that I didn't put down 'Murica!
Guioakk
+1
Level 34
Jun 27, 2013
in portugal its actually 713 not 700
wolfcat95
+8
Level 67
Nov 2, 2013
These numbers are all approximations. It is ridiculous to not expect them to fluctuate somewhat from month to month.
tlebo
+9
Level 45
Mar 25, 2014
I didn't realize that the United States counted!
AlexThirkell
+15
Level 74
Apr 6, 2020
What country did you think had 1,200,00 US troops in it?!
Jacktheguy
+3
Level 89
Jun 19, 2020
North Korea, obviously.
TheodoreE45
+4
Level 93
Oct 17, 2020
The Vatican City duh...
burntfrost
+1
Level 48
Apr 19, 2014
I think the ones in Qatar are all on R&R.
Arp2600
+2
Level 85
Apr 20, 2014
There are american soldiers in Belgium because of the NATO headquarters (the SHAPE). I know that very well, it is in Casteau, near Mons, 20km from my house (the air base is in Chièvres, 6 km from my house, I visited the Chièvres base when I was a child, during the gulf war ;) ).
Xxfraser599xX
+3
Level 22
May 28, 2014
amazing that more people got japan than usa...
Tecumseh94
+12
Level 48
Oct 16, 2014
An imperialistic empire of world conquest proportions.
tschutzer
+25
Level 90
Oct 16, 2014
Um, almost all of the countries on this list are VERY happy to have US troops stationed there. In fact there's really only one exception - Cuba. Having a US military base in your country effectively backs you with the might of the most powerful fighting force in the world. Do you really think Russia would have swept into Crimea and eastern Ukraine as they did, if there were US troops stationed there? Not a chance in hell.
kapulani3
+11
Level 74
Apr 2, 2017
South Koreans do since North Korea is constantly threatening to invade and would do so in a heartbeat if there was no US presence. I have no comment on the rapes since I haven't investigated but I think the freedom they now enjoy would be more welcome than the communism they fought against and the even greater rapes (if your assessment is correct) that would occur from North Korea.
Tecumseh94
+6
Level 48
Jan 11, 2018
Um, It's not about the country their in, its about their positioning to be anywhere to ensure hegemony. And there are definitely some people in eastern Ukraine who like Russia there as well.
1800didiaskyoutho
+6
Level 44
Jan 25, 2019
no not really. they think we're obnoxious and rude.
dasubergeek
+10
Level 73
Jan 14, 2016
You do understand that most of these are not theatre bases, right? We're not invading Germany, but the largest U.S. military hospital outside the United States is at Landstuhl, near Ramstein Air Base. And in some cases (Incirlik Air Base, in Adana, Turkey) the base is twofold: as a place in a friendly nation for operational maneuvers, but also as a place to train the friendly nation's armed forces.
Quizmaster
+25
Level ∞
Jan 10, 2018
Belgium is the source of all the world's problems, not the United States.
TWM03
+3
Level 70
Oct 21, 2018
Yeah, that's why it's so worrying that only 890 US troops are based there. More need to be added. It will stop all of the world's problems.
OneMoreDown
+3
Level 50
Oct 16, 2014
Too bad you couldn't squeeze in Denmark (Thule) that really would have messed with minds.
mts777
+4
Level 55
Jun 19, 2020
I typed in Denmark as well. Surprised it wasn't there.
SpankyMcFabulous
+3
Level 45
Oct 19, 2014
I love that the USA is only the fifth most-guessed answer!
Quickman
+2
Level 21
Oct 26, 2014
I missed the United States...
Jacktheguy
+2
Level 89
Jan 14, 2016
You'd think that with a quiz titled "Countries with US Troops," the USA would be the most guessed answer. But apparently not.
hwes
+1
Level 84
Nov 16, 2014
A different list than mine.

http://www.jetpunk.com/user-quizzes/42254/countries-with-a-us-military-base

DaisyGeekyTGirl
+1
Level 52
Nov 30, 2014
Surprised Syria wasn't on
Quizzer6794
+1
Level 64
Apr 8, 2015
OMG! I guessed North Korea but not South Korea! Ugh!
WishfulThinker
+3
Level 31
Jun 16, 2015
I'm ashamed to say that I missed the US. And spent far too long sat in confusion thinking 'over a million troops?' I must of heard about this country surely?

D'oh

bossch1ck
+1
Level 67
Sep 30, 2015
Really? USA? That was a stupid answer.
Almariel
+1
Level 60
Jan 14, 2016
I forgot USA. I feel like an idiot -_-
Quizzer6794
+1
Level 64
Jan 14, 2016
Somehow 86% can't get a given answer
hwes
+1
Level 84
Jan 14, 2016
I have a more extensive quiz similar to this. I haven't updated it since 2013 though

http://www.jetpunk.com/user-quizzes/42254/countries-with-a-us-military-base

erikvanlaere
+1
Level 65
Jan 15, 2016
Didn't protect Ukraine from being partly invaded…
kapulani3
+1
Level 74
Apr 2, 2017
We had a pathetic wimp as a President. Putin scared him. Obama wouldn't even send in back up to save the ambassador and troops in Benghazi -- and he had provocation since that was a direct attack against Americans. A President with a backbone would have stood up to Putin.
DasCreamy109
+8
Level 47
Nov 12, 2017
I think many would disagree. The U.S. and Russia already hate each other enough, and we don't need any more conflict. We try to leave them alone on purpose. Was taking Crimea wrong? Yes, but we can't afford to go around and keep starting more wars, can we?
nerdalert
+3
Level 84
Jul 12, 2022
Russia took South Ossetia under Bush and will take Ukraine back in a year or so under Biden. I'm no fan of Obama's policies (think he's a great person, however), but you can hardly single him out as the reason.

Ironically, for all the RuSSia OWns TRumP conspiracy gibberish, Trump's the only president under whom Russia hasn't invaded anyone (one of the few advantages of Trump's erratic nature).

Tylorova
+1
Level 16
Jan 12, 2018
Ukraine wasn't invaded
amm14
+21
Level 66
Jan 25, 2019
All those Russian soldiers were just volunteering during their vacations, we know.
nerdalert
+4
Level 84
Jul 12, 2022
This aged well.
amm14
+1
Level 66
Jan 25, 2019
Did we have troops there? Surely not in Crimea.
FrostExplosion
+1
Level 50
Jun 21, 2020
They do but not for combat currently the Tennesee 278th Armored Calvary Regiment is helping with training in the Ukraine
JWatson24
+3
Level 71
Jul 2, 2022
Let me just say: it is surreal wandering around JetPunk today and seeing comments from pre-2022 about the War in Ukraine. I mean, I'm not trying to minimize the destruction Russia caused in the period of 2014 to 2021, but whatever they did during that time absolutely pales in comparison with what has happened in just the past 4 months. People really didn't know what was coming (and I don't blame them--I didn't either).
Malbaby
+2
Level 71
Jan 18, 2016
There are foreign troops in the USA, unfortunately the USA does not know who or where they are.
samiamco
+2
Level 69
Jul 16, 2016
I'm assuming this does not count NATO bases that include US soldiers? In any case, I thought for sure Saudi Arabia would still be on here. I knew we'd done a big draw down, but to below 600? And don't we have some in Kosovo? Or is that one too hush-hush?
Hyzoo
+1
Level 46
Feb 15, 2017
I was very surprised when Israel did not appear as I typed it.
epicdjyoshi
+1
Level 31
Sep 11, 2017
Me too
joeythelemur
+4
Level 84
Mar 19, 2019
Why? I don't believe the US has ever stationed troops there.
FrostExplosion
+1
Level 50
Jun 21, 2020
Their both military allies. the United States has helped Israel a lot
danvan
+6
Level 44
May 10, 2017
I don't know where the wikipedia article is getting it's information from and when it was last updated, but Australia has some 1250 USMC personnel stationed in Darwin, and have had for a few years now.

http://www.marforpac.marines.mil/Units/Marine-Rotational-Force-Darwin/

divantilya
+1
Level 37
Jun 1, 2017
It's odd that the Netherlands isn't included, yet there are two FOB's

(Forward Operating Bases or sites) within the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Hato Int'l, Cur. & Beatrix Int'l (Aruba)

DasCreamy109
+1
Level 47
Nov 12, 2017
Guess they have less than 600 personnel.
1800didiaskyoutho
+1
Level 44
Jan 25, 2019
and also 2 bases (Schinnen and Brunssum)
driehoek25
+1
Level 66
Jun 19, 2020
Those troops are French, Canadian and British.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allied_Joint_Force_Command_Brunssum

ko2
+2
Level 24
Jul 19, 2017
Got all but belgium
FatSpartanJediLlama
+1
Level 67
Jul 19, 2017
I was only joking when I typed in Bahrain. XD
epicdjyoshi
+2
Level 31
Sep 11, 2017
Was surprised bout UK France Belgium and Spain, thought they had good enough militaries already. Surprised that the Philippines is not there as it used to be US colony until 1946
DasCreamy109
+2
Level 47
Nov 12, 2017
They don't have bad militaries, they decided since we are all "friends," we can share each other's land, that's all. It is easier for a country to flex their muscles if they can use their military from just about any point in the world, which is what we do.
samiamco
+3
Level 69
Jun 2, 2019
Well, they don’t have bases in the US, so it’s not quite “sharing”…
Malbaby
+4
Level 71
Jun 10, 2020
'samianco'.... the idea is to have bases closer to ones supposed enemies, not further away which would be the case if European forces were to move to USA.
LukeMontgomery
+2
Level 65
Sep 11, 2017
Sorry but how have 16% of people missed out the US itself, I mean come on...
CS
+1
Level 66
Dec 10, 2020
Update 3 years later: only 12% now. But still how?
Jymy
+1
Level 60
Jul 12, 2022
It's 7% now.
CaliforniaYankee
+1
Level 20
Jan 10, 2018
More people got Iraq than US, lol.
quizwhizz
+10
Level 66
Jan 10, 2018
Protecting from Russian invasion since 1945? Come on JetPunk, so much better than the silly 'red scare'. If anything, recent history shows US troops have made unstable countries even more unstable and veering to disaster, (e.g. Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, etc.)
Dabossishere
+6
Level 37
Jan 10, 2018
USSR is over since Dec 1991, I wonder how much frozen in the past people who use the "red scare" argument nowadays to justify NATO and US troops in Europe can be to still believe this.
amm14
+6
Level 66
Jan 25, 2019
Thanks mostly to the US, the USSR collapsed in 1991, liberating millions (though, because of the inept and corrupt officials involved, many of those millions ended up under plutocratic dictators only somewhat better than the Soviets). Communist dictatorships remain in, at a minimum, Cuba, China, Vietnam, and North Korea (not to mention their ideological and methodological cousins in, e.g., Venezuela). The US and NATO continue to act as the world's primary bulwarks of freedom and democracy.
TheLastFish
+4
Level 69
Mar 10, 2019
There are many reasons why the USSR ultimately collapsed and the final cause was probably their Afghanistan war. When you say "Thanks mostly to the US", do you refer to the CIA program which constituted and trained Al Qaeda in order to fight the Soviets in Afghanistan? Some people nowadays regret the US support for Al Qaeda. Just said.
amm14
+6
Level 66
Mar 11, 2019
No, I mostly mean providing (1) a sufficient military deterrent to prevent Communist conquest and pillaging of adjacent nations; (2) post-War investment both direct (e.g., Marshall Plan) and indirect (by promoting free trade) in the then-impoverished European continent, which allowed the rise of European economies and institutions strong enough to stand on their own; (3) ideological and political leadership that coordinated the free world and supported dissidents in the second world; and (4) an arms race that forced the Soviets to spend their resources on defense, eventually bankrupting them.
amm14
+4
Level 66
Mar 11, 2019
Qaeda or no Qaeda, do you think the world was better off with the Soviets? Do you think, but for the pressure put on the USSR by the West, the Soviets would have collapsed from their stupid incursion into Afghanistan alone?
TheLastFish
+2
Level 69
Mar 21, 2019
As I said, there are many reasons, not just Afghanistan. And IMHO, the ruinous arms race has been probably the most impactful strategy. It is hard to tell whether the world would have been better off without the Soviets. Has the world become better since the decline of the Soviet Union? Just one example, until 1991, Western European governments had to provide a welfare state as it is not trivial to decide whether socialism or neoliberalism is worse. Since the decline of real existing socialism, this "thread" has been gone and neoliberalism could cause these nice global crises.
Quizmaster
+4
Level ∞
Mar 9, 2019
It's a joke, guys. You can officially relax.
kalbahamut
+2
Level 83
Jul 12, 2022
A joke, yes. But also true. and the biased response to it is, objectively, false. There weren't even any troops in Libya.
nerdalert
+3
Level 84
Jul 12, 2022
Another comment that aged rather poorly.
14Falke
+1
Level 60
Jul 12, 2022
Aged poorly
jaycalsberg
+4
Level 43
Jan 10, 2018
Why do we don't have here Poland and Baltic States? American soldiers have been there since 2016
FudgyOreo111
+1
Level 45
Jul 15, 2022
600 of them?
markasol
+3
Level 75
Jan 10, 2018
There is a good reason for all of these US bases. The US is currently the world's policeman - like it or not - and so has to have a range of bases. The US economic system is predominant and that warrants protection, especially the countries with whom it trades - and anyone who says there is no threat from Russia is either blind, a die-hard communist or a lover of the crypto fascism Putin represents. In response to the 'bring 'em home' and 'let's save the money' crowd of US isolationists, there was a great line from the West Wing TV show ''[US forces stationed abroad and possibly engaged in warfare] is the price you pay for being rich, free and alive at the same time!''
Quizmaster
+4
Level ∞
Mar 9, 2019
If JetPunk comments are anything to go by, most Europeans resent our presence. I don't know why we don't just withdraw our troops and let Europe sort out their own defense. Same for Japan and South Korea. It would save the U.S. government a couple hundred billion a year which we could spend on doing things that don't make the world hate us. Of course, they'll miss us when we are gone.
QRU
+11
Level 74
Mar 10, 2019
The US uses it's base in Ramstein to conduct war crimes in Africa and the Middle East. You might understand, why many Germans are a bit uneasy about that.

Also, the recent unreliability of the US government brought to mind again, how dependent Europe on the US is, and how there is no Plan B, if that relationship would go down. Advocating for a stronger independence of Europe in this matter is also something the US has asked for for years.

And it's not like the US does Europe a favour in being there. They have they're own interests, that would be missed, if those troops would have to go back home.

TheLastFish
+1
Level 69
Mar 10, 2019
I can just second QRU. With the exception that there would be a plan B: a pan-European security concept including Russia (as was the plan/hope in 1991). This should not say that Europa should change sides and ally with Russia against the USA. (Of course a global security concept would be even better.) However, Europa should definitively stop to make this plan B increasingly impossible. Just in case the USA gets an unreliable ally.
amm14
+3
Level 66
Mar 11, 2019
It's always funny to hear Germans hand-wring about war crimes. We still remember what happens when you police your own: When the US left Europe to its own devices, you managed the twin triumphs of WWI and WWII, and created a climate in which Communism could rise. And the only pan-European security involving Russia is one in which you learn Russian, fast. Красивый язык, рекомедую!
TheLastFish
+6
Level 69
Mar 21, 2019
It's always sad when you realise that Germany is basically the only country in the world which admits and regrets its war crimes (except 1999 of course). No offense and obviously this does not hold for all the open-minded people out there. Well, the winner writes the history. And killing civilists with nuclear or conventional bombs is definitively much more human than other methods, right? Same holds of course for drone strikes against the citizens of an allied country.
TheLastFish
+1
Level 69
Mar 21, 2019
And if you check your history books, you will see that communism has risen during WW1. There was no need to start/enter the war, so if anyone is to blame for the October revolution it has to be the Zar et al. By the way, the very same history books will tell you that Russia has been allied since its constitution with Western European Powers. Russia not allied with (some) Western powers appears to be an episodic exception. Further, when I remember correctly, the Congress of Vienna had no agreed on a passage that it will be mandatory to speak Russian from then on until the end of history.
markthoma
+1
Level 73
Jun 21, 2020
People are resentful when they have to rely on other nations to achieve things they are not able to achieve on their own. They are then particularly resentful when those nations leverage their influence to achieve their own objectives. As a non-American example, you can look at China's role in many of the nations in which it has made substantial investments and given substantial gifts and loans and thereby obtained an increasing amount of power. They naturally therefore have engendered resentment in these countries, but the governments still take their money and accept the influence this affords China. This sort of thing is as old as diplomacy.
kalbahamut
+2
Level 83
May 23, 2021
They're there protecting the interests of the United States and its strategic alliances. Not as a personal favor to anyone or to win brownie points with the locals.
Lucasc
+1
Level 43
Jan 11, 2018
forgot USA *facepalm*
Pinoccio
+1
Level 29
Jan 12, 2018
What about Israel?
kalbahamut
+6
Level 83
Mar 10, 2019
The IDF defends its own country.
JackintheBox
+1
Level 78
Mar 10, 2019
The United Kingdom does too.
kalbahamut
+5
Level 83
Mar 11, 2019
^ yeah not so much. Those American troops in the UK are still there from the last time the British Isles were under threat of invasion and they very much needed help defending them. Correct me if I'm wrong but the only time I believe US military has been in Israel was during the Gulf War (which Israel was not a party to) to shoot down SCUD missiles and afterward they left. Anyway it's a popular misconception that the Israeli military is somehow an extension of the American military but it's simply not the case. They get their hardware from a variety of places, they are capable of being fully self-sufficient, and though the two countries share intelligence; cooperate on R&D, logistics, and counter-terrorism; and regularly perform joint training exercises, no American personnel have ever been involved in any Israeli war. But a lot of people think they have been.
mrnafe
+5
Level 81
Apr 24, 2019
When did the Americans help defend the UK? We helped the US invade mainland Europe from British shores. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad of the American support but we havnt been invaded since Hitler tried and that was before Pearl Harbor.
kalbahamut
+4
Level 83
Apr 24, 2019
The US Navy unofficially became involved in late 1939. They started mostly by supplying the British and also shadowing and reporting positions of German U-boats. US Navy vessels patrolled and kept open the Western Atlantic freeing up the Royal Navy to focus on the East. In 1940 the US signed a mutual defense pact with Canada and later the Lend/Lease program began to replace British losses while the USN still protected British shipping in the North + West Atlantic. In '41 US ports began accepting British ships for repairs. In April '41 a US destroyer attacked a German U-boat in the North Atlantic. Soon after US military bases for destroyers and seaplanes were opened in Ireland and Scotland. American involvement rapidly increased from there. An American pilot spotted the Bismarck and Americans were involved in many other naval battles. US ground troops secured Greenland and Iceland. American GIs started landing in the UK in '42, after the official declaration of war.
kalbahamut
+3
Level 83
Apr 24, 2019
and I didn't say you were invaded I said "the last time the British Isles were under threat of invasion." If Britain had lost control of the seas they would have been cut off and eventually invaded, too. But US support and mutual defense extended back many years prior to Pearl Harbor.

I'm not trying to say that the British were weak or bad at defending themselves, just that the American involvement in the defense of Britain during WW2 was much more direct - involving direct engagement of US military vessels, opening of US military bases on British soil, and loss of American lives - than in any defense of Israel against invasion that has ever taken place. That was the whole point. The US has given Israel money and equipment; never troops or bases.

mrnafe
+1
Level 81
Apr 24, 2019
The United forces of axis Europe was an entirely different beast to the alliances Israel has had to face down though. Push comes to shove, American (and probably British) troops would be on the ground and Israel's enemies know it.
kalbahamut
+2
Level 83
Apr 24, 2019
nafe: maybe, though I actually kind of doubt it. But so far, there has never been a need for it, as like I said, the IDF defends its own country. In some alternate reality where they had to fight Hitler and the Japanese Empire, then, yeah, they probably would need help. :P
TheLastFish
+1
Level 69
Jun 10, 2020
This job has been outsourced to the coming Israelis when the “little loyal Jewish Ulster in a sea of potentially hostile Arabism” has been conceptualised in 1917.
JackintheBox
+1
Level 78
Mar 10, 2019
I got the United States last
Rickerdt
+1
Level 59
Mar 10, 2019
How did i miss the USA?
Jerry928
+1
Level 75
Mar 11, 2019
Qatar? Al Udeid Air Base is there, and it is one of the countries where the 5th Fleet's personnel would be hosted.
Quizmaster
+1
Level ∞
Mar 11, 2019
521 troops
MrsNesbitt
+1
Level 44
Apr 24, 2019
2,976 actually. Currently deployed and actively stationed there. This includes reservists that are currently on active status.

The wikipedia page you pulled your numbers from states in the references that these are "permenantly assigned" to these locations. However this does not reflect the true military presence in these countries.

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/u-s-military-personnel-deployments-country/

Quizmaster
+1
Level ∞
Apr 24, 2019
That's just some random webpage. But, credit where it's due, they post their source. What is their source? The same as our source, only 4 years out of date.
mustasi
+1
Level 48
Mar 21, 2019
Poland?
djm
+1
Level 63
Jun 19, 2020
Poland and Romania. Not sure why they aren't listed.
GeoDude
+1
Level 48
Apr 2, 2019
Saudi Arabia looked like a lot more than 700 when I was there.
kalbahamut
+1
Level 83
Apr 24, 2019
Where did you see them? Officially, the US has no troops in Saudi Arabia. Unofficially, I think they maintain at least one air base somewhere around Riyadh. But... it's pretty low-profile and I personally never saw any US servicemen in Saudi Arabia over the course of the six years I was living there. Saw tons in Bahrain, though. The Americans I saw in the Kingdom were almost all teachers or in the oil industry.
Xenon
+6
Level 53
Apr 24, 2019
I am waiting for quiz showing how many Innocent people all arund the world lost their lives because of USA and their lust for crude oil and other natural resources
Osiris
+10
Level 62
Apr 24, 2019
Good grief.
kalbahamut
+9
Level 83
Apr 24, 2019
Much smaller than the number of people alive today because of American hegemony since 1945.
Xenon
+4
Level 53
Apr 25, 2019
People from Vietnam, Korea, Yugoslavia, Libya, Syria Hiroshima, Nagasaki would definitely argue with that
kalbahamut
+7
Level 83
Apr 25, 2019
They can argue as much as they like and they would still be wrong. It's kind of funny you even bring up Yugoslavia. I'd encourage you to read about what actually happened there. And Hiroshima/Nagasaki since I did say since 1945. There was no hegemony prior to 1945, thus, WW2. Thanks for making my point for me.
CaptainUnderpant
+1
Level 79
Aug 1, 2023
And then there was "American hegemony" after 1945? What about the Cold War?
Osiris
+4
Level 62
Apr 25, 2019
I would suppose that Xenon would argue that nobody would have died in the civil wars in Korea, Vietnam, Libya, or Syria if the United States had not become involved- opposing factions would have put their differences aside and held hands with one another in perfect harmony. You know, just like everyone did in Yugoslavia during its breakup.... Oh, wait! Never mind!
Quizmaster
+7
Level ∞
Feb 11, 2020
The bombings of Nagasaki and Hiroshima saved millions of lives. Including probably my grandfather's who was training for a very high risk position in the planned invasion of the Japanese mainlands. In fact, so many purple hearts were produced by the U.S. military for that planned invasion that we are still using those purple hearts today. But U.S. casualties would have paled in comparison to the millions of Japanese who would have died. And let's not forget the millions of people in the rest of Asia under Japanese occupation who would have died as well.

There are reasons to oppose dropping the bomb in WWII, but saving lives is not one of them.

kalbahamut
+5
Level 83
Mar 18, 2020
QM, with respect, that's the propagandistic reason cooked up by the US for dropping the bombs after the fact to create a rationale for using such horrible weapons. The Japanese had already tried to surrender before the bombs were even dropped. It was a straight up war crime and didn't save anyone's life. But it did kill hundreds of thousands of civilians needlessly.
mrnafe
+3
Level 81
Apr 24, 2019
Saving the rest of Europe from Russian invasion maybe...
Osiris
+6
Level 62
Apr 25, 2019
Make no mistake: If the United States had not actively participated in the reconstruction of western Europe and made its military might available to be the cornerstone of the NATO alliance, the Soviet Union would have surged much further than they did with the Warsaw Pact. Without a coordinated, American-backed alliance, do you REALLY think that the "Iron Curtain" would have been where Stalin decided to voluntarily stop increasing his sphere of influence?
kalbahamut
+4
Level 83
Apr 26, 2019
We'd probably have been looking at an occupation of most of Europe, perhaps some really bloody wars followed by some very nasty insurgencies. Genocide in the Balkans and Israel. Brutal invasions/insurgencies/civil wars/ethnic cleansing in South Korea and Taiwan. and East Timor. and Africa, worse than what we've seen anyway. A prolonged Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. Possible nuclear war between Pakistan and India, or the USSR and some other less powerful nation. Multiple European invasions of the Americas, if you want to roll the clock back that far. But the biggest thing would be that in a world with no global hegemon and many competing nation-states with roughly comparable military strengths you end up in a situation where large-scale protracted and indecisive multi-national wars are likely to occur, a la WW1 and WW2. Taking away the nation at the top just creates a power vacuum that will be filled, and a lot of instability.
samiamco
+1
Level 69
Jun 2, 2019
The Balkans got attempted genocide anyway.
kalbahamut
+4
Level 83
Mar 18, 2020
Attempted, yes. And stopped by American involvement.
TheLastFish
+1
Level 69
Jun 19, 2020
@kal's first reply: The thing with hegemons is that they always vanish sooner or later. When that day comes for the US, presumably China will be the new hegemon for some decades to centuries. Accordingly, whoever is hegemon should do their best to advance the executive power of the United Nations (or alike). Because otherwise your world war 3 could come or at least does the former hegemon bend his knee to the new one.
Thechamp23
+1
Level 46
Apr 29, 2019
Should I be ashamed that I forgot U.S.
samiamco
+2
Level 69
Jun 2, 2019
Oh hey! Just when you got this all nice and updated, we sent 900 troops to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, literally yesterday!
Oliver1937
+2
Level 44
Oct 16, 2019
You forget US troops deployed for training exercises in other countries. (E.g. Australia)
Geoguessin
+1
Level 68
Nov 22, 2019
Wow the US was part of it ba dum tsssss
emmie
+1
Level 32
Nov 22, 2019
Ireland ?
thegipper
+3
Level 45
Jun 19, 2020
Cuba tricked my up due to the territorial control and jurisdiction! I forgot it was still recognized as sovereign Cuban territory on a perpetual lease...
Mountbatten26
+4
Level 57
Jun 19, 2020
No Djibouti ? There is an American military base there
aasl25
+3
Level 58
Jun 19, 2020
Surprised that the Philippines isn't included here considering how many of the US Troops here have made children with locals
TheChosen
+1
Level 72
Jun 22, 2020
When I was in Davao I was pointed out the large U.S. base right next to the airport. Surprised it's not mentioned here.
Rockton
+2
Level 16
Jun 19, 2020
How did only 90% get USA lol
countries
+1
Level 25
Jun 22, 2020
there are us troops in qatar also
kalbahamut
+2
Level 83
Jun 22, 2020
"Protecting you from Russian invasion since 1945!"

but forgot to protect themselves.

JohnnyYeet
+1
Level 56
Jul 6, 2020
The US said that following the conflict between India and China, they moved troops from Germany into India and other US-allied South and East Asian Countries.
ajbeck
+1
Level 79
Aug 4, 2020
No Netherlands? Schinnen, Volkel are both in the Netherlands, not to mention Joint Force Command Brunssum.
gzx5
+1
Level 71
Sep 22, 2020
Djibouti has at least 4,000 US troops.
Valenmiceli
+1
Level 65
Nov 2, 2020
If you read Mearsheimer then you'll realize why USA has troops in the majority of the continents. The international system drives big states to chase the Hegemony, and oh boy the US did that.
TheCaptain
+1
Level 64
Dec 28, 2020
Interesting how none of these countries even remotely pose a threat to our freedom, yet conservatives label us as unpatriotic when we question the bloated budget the military has. The military only draws us apart instead of helping us to come together as a species and achieve peace
buck1017
+3
Level 77
Jul 7, 2021
We currently HAVE peace. War is the natural state of humanity. I think people tend to not realize just how peaceful of a time we are living in right now because they point to regional violence here and there. If you strive for perfection, you will always be let down. Less than 100 years ago, countries straight up invading other countries was literally an everyday occurrence. And now, it barely happens. One of the reasons that it barely happens are strong military alliances. And part of that military alliance, is the presence of soldiers from the strongest military on the planet. Yeah, the military budget is probably too high, I agree. But I also believe that peace through strength is a very real thing, but only if the strong aren't the aggressors. If you believe that the US ARE the aggressors, that's a very different debate.
jmellor13
+1
Level 67
Jul 12, 2022
You seem to think we're in these countries to scare them out of "threatening our freedom." We don't post troops in these countries because we're worried these countries are going to come at us. In every case except Cuba, we are in these countries with their permission. We are in these countries for the strategic value of their locations, so we can defend against or go to into *other* countries should the need arise.
ASmartPanda
+1
Level 50
Jan 10, 2021
I can't be the only one that missed the USA.
MichaelPeblo
+2
Level 46
Jan 20, 2021
Super surprised that Poland is not on the list.
quizyokrajach
+2
Level 17
Jan 27, 2021
not Poland? Not actual
SaorAlba
+4
Level 64
Apr 1, 2021
But Russia and China are the threat, right? Right?!
kalbahamut
+3
Level 83
May 23, 2021
uh. yeah. What do you think the troops are doing in these places? Were you under the impression all of these countries were being actively invaded? Arguably excluding Cuba, all of these places host US troops that were invited to come there. Several of them actually are threatened by Russian and Chinese expansionism. Others are worried about Iran, North Korea, ISIS or the Taleban.
vitriden
+3
Level 80
Oct 18, 2021
Invited? To Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan? If you invade a country and the new government you support wants you to stay there, that doesn't make you an occupier? Are you for real?

P.S. Yes, I am very well aware these were/are dictatorships. Yet, there are dozens of other dictatorships around the globe that the US actively support or at least tolerate. I live in a dictatorship, and my government has full US support. So, in the end, it's the American interests that matter, not "fighting for freedom" or some similar bullshit.

kalbahamut
+1
Level 83
Mar 16, 2022
You seem to know much on the subject of bullshit. I'll defer to your expertise.
vitriden
+3
Level 80
Sep 5, 2022
You seem like such a nice fellow, and from all I have read from you, I really want to give you a friendly advice: do some tests for narcissistic personality disorder, you don't have to tell anyone about it, just check it, please, you may be surprised by the results...
kalbahamut
+2
Level 83
Mar 16, 2022
Right.
jmellor13
+1
Level 67
Jul 12, 2022
SaorAlba's comment has aged worse than perhaps any other on this site. Yes, Russia is the threat.
buck1017
+1
Level 77
Jul 7, 2021
I got about halfway done with the time and was like Jeez...who the hell has 1.2 million US troops? Bigtime facepalm.
DarkAlpha
+2
Level 24
Sep 12, 2021
UPDATE NEEDED!! We pulled out of Afghanistan.
saintelbe
+1
Level 49
Oct 18, 2021
Think this is a bit out of date e.g. putting troops in TW, leaving Afghanistan. Is Diego Garcia included in the UK? As should be Mauritius given UN ruling. Really interesting quiz though and thank you :)
vitriden
+1
Level 80
Oct 18, 2021
Afghanistan out. Repeat, Afghanistan out.
MWS
+2
Level 79
Feb 24, 2022
Qatar should be here.
Ell1994
+1
Level 46
Mar 14, 2022
Only missed Belgium and Cuba
Jeremy
+1
Level 73
May 11, 2022
Surprised by a few absences on here - I know several people who are or have been stationed in Thailand, the Philippines, Djibouti, and Australia but none of them make an appearance. Guess there just aren't enough there?
kalbahamut
+1
Level 83
Jun 19, 2022
The US military left Thailand in 1976 (though I think it continued being a popular place to go and stop for R&R long after that), and the Philippines in 1992. The presence in Australia is relatively small; the odd absence of Djibouti (sometimes appearing on the quiz, sometimes not) is discussed above.
cpgatbyu
+1
Level 84
Jul 1, 2022
At https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/2979096/biden-thanks-us-troops-in-poland-for-their-sacrifices-service/ there's a DOD press release that predates by 6 days the date in the quiz's subtitle and that says there are over 100,000 in Europe.
Quizmaster
+1
Level ∞
Jul 1, 2022
The source is listed and presumed accurate.
np
+1
Level 64
Jul 9, 2022
I think that Greece should be included
ChaosLord
+1
Level 73
Jul 12, 2022
Well, Putin has made all this simultaneously seem not quite so bad and completely unnecessary. Russia's conventional military is barely managing to gain ground in Ukraine. How do we think it would do in Poland?
kalbahamut
+6
Level 83
Jul 12, 2022
I'm sure that the Polish would prefer simply to not find out. They are one of the most outspoken advocates for US military presence in Europe and have been for decades. As surprisingly resilient as Ukraine has proven to be, as capable and brave as their leaders and soldiers have proven, all that comes as little consolation to the current or former residents of Mariupol.
godofskis
+2
Level 63
Jul 12, 2022
Qatar??
QuizApe
+1
Level 66
Jul 12, 2022
Is Cuba only Guantanamo Bay?
kalbahamut
+1
Level 83
Jul 12, 2022
yes
BlueDevil45
+1
Level 25
Jul 14, 2022
Am i the only one who see all these comments and find that funny?

1. I think Quizmaster knew numbers would change with time when he did that quiz… so you don’t have to say it every time there is a deployment!!!

2. Arguing is all about listening, many of you are just arguing alone… you must include an answer to the previous opinion to have a good argument (for exemple: I agree with the fact that… but i think…) because all of you aren’t even arguing on the same subject 😂, you know, there are some rules when you argue with someone, you have to understand his point well and to listen well before to answer, then make sure your answer has something to do with the previous one!

3. Opinions can change you know, if nobody changes his opinion after an argument, well it doesn’t deserve anything… That’s why you constantly have to reconsider your point of view!

Now apply this and i’m sure the comments will be way more exciting!👍

TuhinKhan
+2
Level 24
Jul 18, 2022
I only missed the USA and Bahrain. Oh god! I didn't know that USA was on the list
MCdoesgeography
+3
Level 63
Apr 4, 2023
Aren't a TON of US soldiers in Djibouti? Thought they had a large base there...
FatSpartanJediLlama
+1
Level 67
Apr 4, 2023
Just missed Bahrain and Kuwait
CotCat
+1
Level 56
Aug 28, 2023
Poland is missing
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