About Our AOR

 

"Presence buys you influence, which is built on trust; You can't surge trust." 

GEN. LLOYD AUSTIN, FORMER U.S. CENTCOM COMMANDER

 

USCENTCOM's area of responsibility consists of 21 countries spanning over 4 million square miles, containing three internationally strategic chokepoints in the most volatile and contested territory in the world. 

 

Our ability to maintain a coalition, conduct unified land operations and compete in the USCENTCOM AOR is only possible when USARCENT, its partners and allies in the Greater Levant, the Arabian Peninsula and Central and South Asia are ready to command and control operations on the ground to achieve unity of effort. Together, the coalition provides information, access and mutual force protection to train, plan and execute coordinated operations. 

 

USARCENT provides command and control, rapid force projection and sustainment as part of a multinational force to deter malign influence, violent extremist organizations and state adversaries across the theater. 

   
      

 
   

This area is populated by more than 550 million people from 22 ethnic groups, speaking approximately 18 languages with many dialects, and practicing a variety of different religions.  

 

The broad demographics of the region create opportunities for tension and rivalry. The Central Region has historically been among the least stable corners of the globe.

 

U.S. Central Command cites, “Adversarial relationships among neighboring states, widespread ethnic and sectarian struggles, malign influence and destabilizing activities, cyber-based threats, and growing arsenals of sophisticated conventional weapons and weapons of mass destruction all combine to imperil enduring U.S. vital national interests, as well as those of our trusted partners and allies.”

 

This geographic region intersects three continents. Within this are globally vital commercial sea lanes, flight corridors, pipelines and overland routes. The importance of maintaining stability in this region is further supported by its role as a primary supplier of natural resources. Disruptions in the supply of these resources can have implications which reverberate worldwide.