Which countries have military training presence in the US? Qatar joins list with new Idaho facility todayheadline

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Friday, October 10, an agreement allowing the Qatari Emiri Air Force to build a facility at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. The announcement was made at the Pentagon with Qatari Defense Minister Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

“The location will host a contingent of Qatari F-15s and pilots to enhance our combined training, increase lethality, interoperability—it’s just another example of our partnership. And I hope you know, your excellency, that you can count on us,” the defense secretary said.

The United States maintains around 800 bases across 80+ countries, as per the news outlet overseasbases, but none of those countries have bases inside the US. Although some close allies maintain a military presence on US soil.

Foreign military training presence in the United States

The United States does not host any independent foreign military bases. However, several US bases host detachments of foreign militaries and serve as training grounds for foreign personnel, especially pilots. As per the dispatch, these arrangements are designed to enhance interoperability, technical expertise, and strategic cooperation with allied nations. Below is a breakdown of prominent country-specific training arrangements.

Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT)—Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas

Established in 1981, the ENJJPT program is one of the most significant foreign military training initiatives in the US It trains pilots from 14 NATO member nations, including Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey. The program focuses on standardizing training to improve interoperability among NATO air forces.

Netherlands

For over three decades, Dutch pilots trained on the F-16 fighter aircraft at Morris Air National Guard Base in Arizona. Today, they train on the F-35 at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona.

United Kingdom

The British Royal Air Force (RAF) has a long-standing presence in the US:

• XVII Test and Evaluation Squadron—Based at Edwards Air Force Base, California, it was established to integrate the F-35 into RAF service.
• Camp Roberts and Fort Hunter Liggett, California—These bases host various RAF training programs.
• No. 39 Squadron RAF—Previously based at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, the squadron operated the RAF’s unmanned aircraft program until its disbandment in July 2022.

Singapore—Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho

Under the Peace Carvin V program, Singaporean airmen are stationed at Mountain Home AFB as part of the 428th Fighter Squadron, an integrated training unit. They train and qualify on the F-15 fighter aircraft alongside U.S. pilots. With the recent announcement, Qatar’s F-15 pilots will train alongside US forces at this air force base.

Germany—Reston, Virginia (Administrative Presence)

Unlike most foreign forces in the US, Germany maintains a permanent presence, though not a combat base. The German Armed Forces Command in Reston serves as the administrative and logistical hub for all German military activity in the US and Canada.