U.S. and Iraqi officials confirmed on August 12 that the United States will withdraw its remaining soldiers from Iraq by the end of September. If a full withdrawal is completed, it would be the first time since the 2003 U.S. invasion that no American troops have been stationed in Iraq.
U.S. forces withdrew from most areas of Iraq last year but maintained a presence in the semi-autonomous northern Kurdish region, where bases have faced regular attacks since the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran on February 28.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi met with Admiral Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, on Wednesday, August 12. Al-Zaidi stated that he had set September 30 as the “fixed and final date for ending the military mission of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS in Iraq and completing the departure of its forces.”
A U.S. official confirmed the country expects to complete the withdrawal by September 30 but provided no details on the number of troops remaining or their redeployment.
Although this impending exit from Iraq marks a significant milestone, the United States will continue to maintain military bases across dozens of nations worldwide.
The exact count of overseas military installations remains contentious due to varying definitions of what constitutes a “base.” A 2024 report by the Congressional Research Service identified at least 128 U.S. military bases in 51 countries, based on unclassified records. In contrast, a 2021 study by the Quincy Institute, using a broader definition that includes installations on U.S. territories, reported 750 bases across 80 countries or territories, with annual costs exceeding $55 billion. As of December 2025, over 220,000 U.S. troops and Defense Department civilians were stationed overseas.
The United States’ extensive global military presence does not align with the noninterventionist principles advocated by the Founding Fathers. In his 1796 Farewell Address, President George Washington stated: “The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible.” Similarly, during his 1801 inaugural address, President Thomas Jefferson proclaimed: “peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none.”
The sheer number of U.S. military bases worldwide underscores the nation’s deep entanglement in global affairs.