From Japan to Britain, the World Loves Hosting U.S. Troops
Contrary to claims of anti-American backlash, a study finds that the military is a great brand ambassador.
Global partners.
Photographer: Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP/Getty Images
The U.S. has a global military footprint that is second to none, and one of the most visible aspects of that footprint is a worldwide network of bases. From Japan to the U.K., America’s overseas installations allow it to shape events thousands of miles from U.S. shores.
Critics have long argued that basing troops abroad also creates anti-American sentiment, making Washington’s worldwide presence toxic and self-defeating. A recent study turns this critique on its head, showing that foreigners’ contact with American service members leads to more positive views of the U.S. and its military. Overseas bases, it turns out, are not only symbols of American hard power, but tools of American soft power as well.