History of U.S. Troop Deployments, 1950-2023

Abstract: This paper presents and analyzes a unified dataset of annual U.S. troop deployments from 1950 to 2023. The global deployment of millions of U.S. troops has been the defining factor in international affairs for over 100 years, arguably more important than nuclear weapons and treaty alliances. The actual number of permanently deployed troops based in foreign nations has been trending downward over the short, medium, and long term, and is on a trajectory to zero before mid-century. This dataset, available online at www.UStroopdeployments.com, offers new insights on theories of hegemony, unipolarity, and durability. The roots of American engagement are traced to presidential decisions early in the Cold War, particularly the Truman and Eisenhower doctrines that introduced the permanent basing of U.S. combat forces on allied soil.

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