The United States has increased its number of navy ship patrols in the Persian Gulf and Iran’s international nuclear weapons deal is collapsing. The situation has centered increasing attention on the presence of American and other military forces in the Persian Gulf area. As relations between the two countries worsen, attention is once again on foreign military bases in the Middle East. The U.S. has stationed some 14,000 troops in Afghanistan to support the war there. Another 8,000 there are North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, forces. The U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, which operates throughout the Middle East, is based in Bahrain. The island nation is home to over 7,000 American troops. Sheikh Isa Air Base there also houses American fighter planes, spy aircraft and a U.S. special forces operations center. The U.S. considers the island a major non-NATO ally.