by Aspen Coriz-Romero

Photo courtesy of WorldBeyondWar.org

On February 23, 2025, people gathered for an international day of action to call for the closure of military bases around the world. 

The estimated total price of maintaining all US military bases abroad costs taxpayers a whopping $80 billion a year – and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The global presence of the US military is massive with approximately 750 bases in over 80 countries and colonies – which is at least three times as many overseas bases as all other countries combined.  

Not only are bases expensive and excessive, the US military empire produces a slew of harmful impacts - and resistance to it is justified. 

Indigenous peoples have long been displaced by the establishment of military bases, and bases occupy and exploit millions of acres of land globally. Heavy US military presence can be found in places like Guam where 30% of the island is occupied by military installations – encroaching on the livelihood of CHamoru people and their culture. The direct action group Prutehi Litekyan resists the active militarization of Guam and fights to protect their sacred ancestral lands and waters from further destruction.  

The US military is responsible for widespread environmental damage with both domestic and overseas bases ranked as among some of the most polluted in the world, compromising biodiversity and the long-term safety of water and soil. Negligence has endangered both local communities and military members and their families who reside near bases. 

In the case of the 2014-2023 Red Hill disaster, underground military fuel tanks leaked and poisoned the drinking water in O’ahu. While the US Navy was well-aware of the contamination risks, the tanks were placed just 100 feet above an aquifer that supplies 77% of the island’s total water. However, the Navy ignored their own spill response plan and fought to keep the site operating even after the disaster – causing catastrophic harm to local communities. 

Military bases have also contributed to extensive PFAS contamination (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), also known as “forever chemicals.” It’s estimated that there are over 700 military sites with known or suspected discharges of PFAS. Exposure has been linked to a variety of serious health problems for people including cancers and harm to the reproductive and immune systems.  

In my home state of New Mexico, the Holloman Air Force Base contaminated the surrounding lands. Plants and wildlife in the area were found to have the highest PFAS levels ever recorded worldwide – prompting an alarming health advisory for locals. Following the Supreme Court’s decision overturning the Chevron doctrine last year, communities impacted by military-related PFAS pollution have few avenues for redress. 

Moreover, it’s impossible to talk about military pollution without acknowledging that the Pentagon is the largest institutional consumer of fossil fuels. The US military remains a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions which accelerate the climate crisis - an active threat to our ecosystems and communities.

In 2018, as part of the Poor People’s Moral Budget, the National Priorities Project called for the closure of bases abroad which could save billions of dollars a year. We know closing bases means we could make substantial investments in our communities – from education to housing and food security to healthcare – generating prosperity and real security for all. 

Even more, we could restore lands and ecosystems and convert bases for civilian and peaceful uses. We could prioritize diplomacy – currently there are nearly three times more bases than US embassies and consulates worldwide that promote cooperation and collaboration. And we could reinvest in humanitarian aid and development assistance for those most vulnerable in crises around the world, effectively contributing to safety and stability. 

US military bases at home and abroad currently impose enormous social, economic, and ecological harms that ultimately hinder peace and prosperity – but the international day of action reminds us that there are always opportunities to choose a different course.

Aspen Coriz-Romero is the New Mexico Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies.