"I campaigned on bringing our soldiers back home, and that's what I'm doing.... You know, we're in many countries, many, many countries. I -- I'm embarrassed to tell you how many. I know the exact number, but I'm embarrassed to say it because it's so foolish. We're in countries -- we're protecting countries that don't even like us. They take advantage of us. They don't pay; nothing.... And some people, whether it's -- you call it the military-industrial complex or -- or beyond that, they'd like me to stay.... They want me to fight forever. And they do very well fighting. That's what they want to do, fight. A lot of companies want to fight because they make their weapons based on fighting, not based on peace. "
Donald Trump, 16 October 2019

Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley said on 03 December 2020 that the U.S. should reconsider its decades-old practice of stationing troops and their families in allied countries at risk of war. In remarks on the future of warfare, Milley said he believes the military should be more selective in its presence abroad, emphasizing that he strongly favors an overseas U.S. presence but prefers that it be rotational or "episodic" rather than permanent. "Permanently positioning U.S. forces I think needs a significant relook for the future," he said, not just because of the cost but also because it can leave military families vulnerable in high-risk areas. He specifically mentioned Bahrain, which hosts the Navy's 5th Fleet headquarters across the Gulf from Iran. He also cited South Korea, where about 28,000 troops are stationed.