An important realization from our recent litary operations is that they have validated the wisdom (and vision) of our past political and military leaders who set up the overseas infrastructure we have today. The bases we already had in place and the relationships they engendered with other nations ultimately enabled success in an area of the world where no other single power or coalition has really dominated for centuries. The primary reason for this success is American geopresence, which is―and will continue to be―an essential capability in our military operations. As I have attempted to show in this article, geopresence provides the necessary access that enables US forces to train, stage, and employ successfully; it also gives US forces the ability to access any region of the world as they respond to a multitude of contingencies. Further, it presents important and natural opportunities to enhance interoperability and cooperation with our partners and allies―even as we take the necessary steps to transform and modernize our own forces.
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