NATIONALISM, SECURITY, AND FOREIGN MILITARY BASES: A QUESTION OF INTERESTS

In: Third world quarterly, Band 10, Heft 4

Abstract

CLARK AIR BASE AND SUBIC NAVAL BASE IN THE PHILIPPINES ARE THE USA'S LARGEST OVERSEAS MILITARY BASES. WHILE THE PREVIOUS REVIEW OF THE TERMS OF THEIR LEASE UNDER THE 1947 MILITARY BASE AGREEMENT (MBA) TOOK PLACE AT THE TIME OF THE MARCOS DICTATORSHIP, THE LATEST RENEGOTIATIONS HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF A DEMOCRACY. THIS CHANGED POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT HAS ENCOURAGED OPEN AND VOCIFEROUS DEBATE ON ISSUES TOO OFTEN DETERMINED IN SECRECY. YET THE RESULTANT QUESTIONING OF THE INTERESTS WHICH THESE BASES SERVE ECHOES NATIONALIST SENTIMENTS ELSEWHERE, NOT LEAST IN THE DEMOCRACIES OF WESTERN EUROPE. THE RESOLUTION OF THESE DEBATES COULD HAVE FAR-REACHING IMPLICATIONS FOR US OVERSEAS BASING AND MILITARY ACCESS RIGHTS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.