Middle East Crisis: Expert Urges Global Shutdown Of Foreign Military Bases

The Foundation for Peace Professionals (PeacePro) has called for a global reassessment of foreign military deployments.

It urged the United Nations (UN) and the broader international community to consider a phased shutdown of foreign military bases worldwide in the light of the escalating Middle East crisis.

The executive director of PeacePro, Abdulrazaq Hamzat, argued that the current crisis in the Middle East between the US-Israel and Iran, as well as the Gulf States, demonstrated the dangers of forward military positioning and alliance-based security architecture.

Explaining that militarisation breeds escalation, Hazmat stated that the presence of foreign military bases often transforms regional disputes into international confrontations.

“The continued expansion of foreign military bases across sovereign territories has increased the likelihood of global entanglement in regional conflicts. The Middle East crisis is a reminder that militarised deterrence frequently produces escalation rather than peace,” Hamzat said.

He emphasised that foreign bases could make host nations potential targets during geopolitical disputes, heightening civilian vulnerability and destabilising entire regions.

He urged the major global powers, including the United States, China and Russia, to begin negotiations on a multilateral agreement to reduce permanent foreign troop deployments outside their home territories.

According to Hamzat, a gradual demilitarisation framework could include a phased withdrawal of foreign combat forces, the conversion of certain military facilities into joint humanitarian or peacekeeping hubs, the strengthening of regional security mechanisms independent of great-power rivalry, and the expansion of diplomatic and conflict-resolution frameworks.

“No region should become a chessboard for major power competition. True security must be built on cooperation not encirclement,” he stated.

Hamzat argued that long-term peace depends less on military deterrence and more on economic cooperation, inclusive diplomacy and respect for sovereign decision-making.