Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
This video explains Britain’s global network of overseas military bases. Using publicly available data, we created a map of every country and oversea territory with a British controlled base. Along the way we examine how the bases came into being, why Britain has so many and what they are used for today.
TIMECODES
0:00 What are these bases?
0:45 How big is Britain's military?
1:09 Why bases abroad?
1:41 How many bases?
2:30 The map
3:15 How does Britain compare?
3:46 Why so many?
5:18 Training bases
6:45 Middle East bases
9:27 Euro-Atlantic bases
11:21 Americas bases
12:25 Indo-Asia-Pacific bases
14:00 Can Britain use them?
FILM CLIPS
Explore and licence the IWM film clips used in this video: film.iwmcollections.org.uk/collections/_V9Vpz7aO
CREDITS
Unless otherwise noted UK MOD footage, is used under the MOD Crown Copyright News / Editorial Licence: gov.uk/government/publications/crown-copyright-mod-news-licence/mod-crown-copyright-news-editorial-licence
UK MOD Images used under Open Government Licence: nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3
US Department of War footage/images are in the public domain. The appearance of this visual information does not imply or constitute endorsement.
Vanguard class SSBN Outline by Mike1979 Russia via Wikimedia Commons. CC BY 4.0
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
https://x.com/I_W_M instagram.com/imperialwarmuseums facebook.com/iwm.london tiktok.com/@imperialwarmuseums
REFERENCES
1. iiss.org/publications/the-military-balance/2026/the-military-balance-2026/global-defence-spending
2. gov.uk/government/statistics/quarterly-service-personnel-statistics-2026/quarterly-service-personnel-statistics-1-january-2026#:~:text=The%20current%20Strength%20(at%201,UK%20Regular%20Forces
3. gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-armed-forces-equipment-and-formations-2025/uk-armed-forces-equipment-and-formations-2025
4.assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/683d89f181deb72cce2680a5/The_Strategic_Defence_Review_2025_-_Making_Britain_Safer_-_secure_at_home__strong_abroad.pdf
5. declassifieduk.org/revealed-the-uk-militarys-overseas-base-network-involves-145-sites-in-42-countries
6. gov.uk/government/statistics/quarterly-service-personnel-statistics-2026/quarterly-service-personnel-statistics-1-january-2026#further-information
7. https://iari.site/2024/06/12/the-strategic-importance-of-djibouti-for-the-world-superpowers/
8. cato.org/commentary/750-bases-80-countries-too-many-any-nation-time-us-bring-its-troops-home
9. defencehq.medium.com/batus-the-canadian-prairie-home-to-the-armys-biggest-playground-1c6806ed9eac
10. insidedio.blog.gov.uk/2022/11/21/transforming-the-british-army-estate-in-belize
11. army.mod.uk/learn-and-explore/global-operations/brunei
12. army.mod.uk/learn-and-explore/global-operations/africa/batuk
13. army.mod.uk/learn-and-explore/global-operations/europe/germany
14. researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8794/CBP-8794.pdf
15. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g74npdwnyo
16. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2r1xldl1ko
17. news.sky.com/story/inside-the-base-where-raf-aces-are-shooting-down-iranian-drones-13538059 + telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/12/uk-military-bases-cyprus-not-up-for-negotiation
18. committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/136461/pdf
19. raf.mod.uk/news/articles/guardians-of-the-sky-air-policing + raf.mod.uk/news/articles/how-the-royal-air-force-deployed-to-estonia + gov.uk/government/news/raf-typhoons-begin-nato-air-policing-mission-in-lithuania + raf.mod.uk/news/articles/op-chessman-raf-typhoons-arrive-in-poland-for-enhanced-air-policing-mission
20. royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2023/march/08/230308-campvikingnorway
21. gov.uk/government/news/uk-steps-up-defence-of-arctic-and-high-north-from-rising-russian-threats
22. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a790a78ed915d07d35b4643/overseas_territories.pdf
23. https://www.ascension.gov.ac/travel-and-shipping/travel-by-air
24. questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2023-01-12/122058
25. army.mod.uk/learn-and-explore/about-the-army/corps-regiments-and-units/brigade-of-gurkhas/british-gurkhas-nepal
26. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckdg7jjlx2go
27. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9dqg3nqynlo
28. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c04x1lg1lygo
29. theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/10/mod-criticised-after-delay-in-sending-hms-dragon-to-cyprus
This video explains Britain’s global network of overseas military bases. Using publicly available data, we created a map of every country and oversea territory with a British controlled base. Along the way we examine how the bases came into being, why Britain has so many and what they are used for today.
TIMECODES
0:00 What are these bases?
0:45 How big is Britain's military?
1:09 Why bases abroad?
1:41 How many bases?
2:30 The map
3:15 How does Britain compare?
3:46 Why so many?
5:18 Training bases
6:45 Middle East bases
9:27 Euro-Atlantic bases
11:21 Americas bases
12:25 Indo-Asia-Pacific bases
14:00 Can Britain use them?
FILM CLIPS
Explore and licence the IWM film clips used in this video: film.iwmcollections.org.uk/collections/_V9Vpz7aO
CREDITS
Unless otherwise noted UK MOD footage, is used under the MOD Crown Copyright News / Editorial Licence: gov.uk/government/publications/crown-copyright-mod-news-licence/mod-crown-copyright-news-editorial-licence
UK MOD Images used under Open Government Licence: nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3
US Department of War footage/images are in the public domain. The appearance of this visual information does not imply or constitute endorsement.
Vanguard class SSBN Outline by Mike1979 Russia via Wikimedia Commons. CC BY 4.0
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
https://x.com/I_W_M instagram.com/imperialwarmuseums facebook.com/iwm.london tiktok.com/@imperialwarmuseums
REFERENCES
1. iiss.org/publications/the-military-balance/2026/the-military-balance-2026/global-defence-spending
2. gov.uk/government/statistics/quarterly-service-personnel-statistics-2026/quarterly-service-personnel-statistics-1-january-2026#:~:text=The%20current%20Strength%20(at%201,UK%20Regular%20Forces
3. gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-armed-forces-equipment-and-formations-2025/uk-armed-forces-equipment-and-formations-2025
4.assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/683d89f181deb72cce2680a5/The_Strategic_Defence_Review_2025_-_Making_Britain_Safer_-_secure_at_home__strong_abroad.pdf
5. declassifieduk.org/revealed-the-uk-militarys-overseas-base-network-involves-145-sites-in-42-countries
6. gov.uk/government/statistics/quarterly-service-personnel-statistics-2026/quarterly-service-personnel-statistics-1-january-2026#further-information
7. https://iari.site/2024/06/12/the-strategic-importance-of-djibouti-for-the-world-superpowers/
8. cato.org/commentary/750-bases-80-countries-too-many-any-nation-time-us-bring-its-troops-home
9. defencehq.medium.com/batus-the-canadian-prairie-home-to-the-armys-biggest-playground-1c6806ed9eac
10. insidedio.blog.gov.uk/2022/11/21/transforming-the-british-army-estate-in-belize
11. army.mod.uk/learn-and-explore/global-operations/brunei
12. army.mod.uk/learn-and-explore/global-operations/africa/batuk
13. army.mod.uk/learn-and-explore/global-operations/europe/germany
14. researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8794/CBP-8794.pdf
15. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g74npdwnyo
16. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2r1xldl1ko
17. news.sky.com/story/inside-the-base-where-raf-aces-are-shooting-down-iranian-drones-13538059 + telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/04/12/uk-military-bases-cyprus-not-up-for-negotiation
18. committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/136461/pdf
19. raf.mod.uk/news/articles/guardians-of-the-sky-air-policing + raf.mod.uk/news/articles/how-the-royal-air-force-deployed-to-estonia + gov.uk/government/news/raf-typhoons-begin-nato-air-policing-mission-in-lithuania + raf.mod.uk/news/articles/op-chessman-raf-typhoons-arrive-in-poland-for-enhanced-air-policing-mission
20. royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2023/march/08/230308-campvikingnorway
21. gov.uk/government/news/uk-steps-up-defence-of-arctic-and-high-north-from-rising-russian-threats
22. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a790a78ed915d07d35b4643/overseas_territories.pdf
23. https://www.ascension.gov.ac/travel-and-shipping/travel-by-air
24. questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2023-01-12/122058
25. army.mod.uk/learn-and-explore/about-the-army/corps-regiments-and-units/brigade-of-gurkhas/british-gurkhas-nepal
26. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckdg7jjlx2go
27. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c9dqg3nqynlo
28. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c04x1lg1lygo
29. theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/10/mod-criticised-after-delay-in-sending-hms-dragon-to-cyprus
