eli5: Why does USA have military bases and soldiers in many foreign countries?

Question

eli5: Why does USA have military bases and soldiers in many foreign countries?

In: Other

Answer 1

If you are a global superpower you need to be able to project that power anywhere in the globe so you need airbases to fly from (more flexible and less risky than a carrier) soldiers to protect the base and potentially to be transported to a nearby combat zone.