Europe's base restrictions push US to consider Gaza as strategic foothold

According to the piece, Spain hosts about 3,700 American soldiers at Rota and Morón but often denies access to those bases and its airspace whenever Washington or Jerusalem target Iran. Italy behaves similarly, restricting use of the Sigonella base once combat missions become more than logistical support. These host-nation vetoes constrain US operational freedom in Europe.

The author proposes that Gaza, a 360-km² coastal strip with a 40-km shoreline, could serve as the needed alternative, noting that Israel already controls roughly 70% of the territory and has built 40 fortified outposts since the 2025 ceasefire. With only a tiny fraction of the area cleared of rubble, the United States could establish a permanent military foothold that European legislatures cannot dismantle.