Former Centcom commander urges US to move Gulf bases to Israel

General Frank McKenzie, the former commander of US Central Command (Centcom), has proposed relocating US military bases from the Persian Gulf region to Israel and neighboring countries. McKenzie argued that the current US basing system, including facilities in Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait, and Bahrain, is too vulnerable to Iranian missile and drone attacks.

Speaking at a webinar hosted by the Jewish Institute for National Security of America, McKenzie stated that he and other officials had previously suggested moving bases westward, including to Israel and Egypt, to better protect US assets. He indicated that the Biden administration had "aggressively" rejected these ideas. McKenzie described the current basing strategy as an "artefact" of past conflicts, such as the Cold War and counter-insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan, and asserted that it no longer matches the current geopolitical reality.

McKenzie's remarks align with a June report by Middle East Eye, which cited former US officials and analysts highlighting the vulnerabilities of the US basing system in the Gulf, particularly in light of Iran's capabilities. He noted that while proximity to a potential enemy offers a "short commute to the fight," it also makes US forces susceptible to rapid strikes. McKenzie suggested that while maintaining a presence in Gulf states for solidarity is important, long-term basing should shift westward.

He specifically highlighted Israel as a particularly attractive location due to potentially fewer restrictions on access, basing, and overflight (ABO) compared to Gulf states. McKenzie also pointed to Israel's superior air defense capabilities as a significant advantage. He recalled that Gulf states had previously imposed restrictions on US military actions against Iran, although Saudi Arabia and the UAE later joined in strikes. McKenzie emphasized that host nations' willingness to grant unrestricted access is crucial for basing decisions.