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USA: Military Bases

Asked by Jeremy CorbynYour PartyMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 26 February 2026UIN 113026

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether financial benefits accrue to the United Kingdom from the US War Department’s ownership of sites such as land and buildings in Britain.

Answered by Luke Pollard

The continued presence of United States (US) military forces in the UK forms an important part of the US’ on-going wider commitment to NATO and the security of Europe. The US Department of War (DoW) does not own military sites, military land, or military buildings in Britian and therefore there is no associated financial benefit.

In accordance with the 1973 Cost Sharing Arrangement, the US DoW is responsible for bearing the cost for the operational running of the bases it occupies such as utilities, as well as any development in support of its forces at those locations.

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