International Legal Grounds for the Liquidation of Foreign Military Bases

The practice of states deploying military formations on the territories of foreign states, being an instrument of their foreign policy, can become a factor of tension in interstate relations. In this regard, the study of legal grounds for the termination of foreign military presence takes on particular relevance. Having analyzed interstate practice, the author identifies the following international legal grounds for the liquidation of foreign military bases: the conclusion of an agreement between the state controlling the military base and the state on whose territory the base is located; a unilateral decision of the state controlling the military base; a unilateral decision of the state that has leased the territory for the establishment of a military base. At the same time, unilateral decisions must not contradict the norms of international law that establish grounds for unilateral withdrawal from an international treaty, which is predetermined by the contractual nature of relations related to the deployment of military bases on the territories of foreign states. Particular attention is given to the analysis of the situation with the US leasing of areas for coal and naval bases in Cuba based on bilateral agreements. Since the issues of establishing and liquidating foreign military bases are politically charged, the only realistic way to prevent complications in interstate relations on this basis, in the author’s opinion, is a high-quality forecast of all possible consequences associated with the presence of foreign military bases on the territory of a state, which should precede the conclusion of international agreements on bases.

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