From Foreign Policy · Kelly A. Grieco, Maximilian K. Bremer · · 3m
After Iran, Washington Needs a New Basing Strategy
U.S. military bases in the Persian Gulf face repeated Iranian strikes, forcing a rethink of how America projects power in the region.
In brief
U.S. military bases in the Persian Gulf face repeated Iranian strikes, forcing a rethink of how America projects power in the region. The U.S. should shift from permanent military bases to a modular, dispersed airfield network to better withstand Iranian attacks and reduce strategic risks. Originally reported by…
Iran War Shatters U.S. Basing Model
For decades, the U.S. relied on large military bases across the Persian Gulf to project power, confident they were beyond reach of groups like the Islamic State and Iran.
Iran Strikes Force U.S. to Evacuate Bases
Iranian missiles and drones repeatedly struck u.s. bases, forcing the military to empty facilities it operated for decades during the war.
Pentagon Weighs Rebuilding or Shifting Bases
The Pentagon is considering whether to rebuild and harden existing bases or shift its force presence westward to countries like Jordan and Israel.
U.S. Shifts Operations When Bases Are Attacked
U.S. forces quickly moved operations to other locations, such as Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina, after Iranian strikes on key bases.
Al Udeid Air Base Evacuated During War
When Iran struck Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest u.s. military facility in the middle east, it was already empty.
U.S. Uses Civilian Airports for Operations
The Air Force sent aerial refueling tankers to Ben Gurion Airport in Israel, using existing infrastructure and temporary support.
Permanent Bases Are Easy to Target
Iran has targeted u.s. bases with detailed knowledge of their layouts, including the destruction of an e-3 sentry at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.
U.S. Burns Through Interceptors in War
In the first six weeks of the war, the U.S. burned through more than 1,001 interceptors, including 40 percent of its prewar patriot stocks and half of its thads.
Hardening Bases Won’t Solve the Problem
Reinforced shelters and buried fuel tanks can protect some assets, but tankers and early-warning aircraft are too large for anything but the largest shelters.
Shifting Bases Increases Political Risks
Moving bases to Jordan and Israel would expose u.s. forces to retaliation for israeli actions, potentially pulling the u.s. into israel’s next war.
U.S. Loses Access to Bases in Gulf
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait temporarily restricted u.s. access to bases during operations in the Strait of Hormuz, fearing u.s. inaction against iranian attacks.
Israel Caps Tanker Numbers at Ben Gurion
Israel limited the number of u.s. tankers at Ben Gurion Airport to avoid crowding out summer tourist traffic, forcing the air force to move jets elsewhere.
U.S. Should Adopt Modular Basing Strategy
Washington should secure access to a wide variety of airports and host-country air bases across the gulf, europe, and the edges of the middle east.
Modular Strategy Offers Resilience
A modular approach allows the u.s. to keep forces ready without permanent bases, reducing the risk of being targeted by iran and other adversaries.
Modular Strategy Reduces Strategic Risks
By dispersing forces across multiple locations, the u.s. can respond to iran without exposing troops to unnecessary risks within range of iran’s missiles.
U.S. Strategy Must Balance Trade-offs
A lighter posture could improve readiness but would require more strategic airlift and logistics during crises.
The one thing
The U.S. should shift from permanent military bases to a modular, dispersed airfield network to better withstand Iranian attacks and reduce strategic risks.
