Cooperative security location

A cooperative security location (CSL) is a U.S. military term for facilities used for regional training in counterterrorism and interdiction of drug trafficking, and also to provide contingency access to continental areas.

"A CSL is a host-nation facility with little or no permanent U.S. personnel presence, which may contain equipment and/or logistical arrangements and serve for security cooperation activities and contingency access."[1] These sites were established as the Pentagon began to address regional threats primarily in Africa and Latin America following its 2004 global posture review.[2] They are sometimes referred to as "lily pads".[3] The establishment of such bases accelerated under the Obama administration, especially with the pivot to the Asia-Pacific region and increased operations in Africa.[4] A CSL is not a forward operating site (FOS) with a small permanent force or contractor personnel or a main operating base (MOB), with a large force and a well-defended site. Canada has established operational support hubs that operate in a similar fashion and can be reached by Canada's fleet of C-17 cargo aircraft.[5]

  1. ^ "Strategic Theater Transformation". United States European Command. 2005-01-14. Archived from the original on 2007-02-04. Retrieved 2007-02-07.
  2. ^ "U.S. European Command Statement Following President Bush's Remarks Addressing Global Posture". United States European Command. 2004-08-16. Archived from the original on 2017-03-31. Retrieved 2007-02-07.
  3. ^ "Presence, Not Permanence". United States Air Force. August 2006. Archived from the original on 2006-11-07. Retrieved 2007-02-07.
  4. ^ Vine, David. "The Lily-Pad Strategy: How the Pentagon Is Quietly Transforming Its Overseas Base Empire". The Huffington Post, 16 July 2012.
  5. ^ Berthiaume, Lee. "New military outposts key to more overseas missions" Archived 2012-07-20 at the Wayback Machine. Postmedia Network, 19 July 2012.

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