Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of each hypothetical region with characteristics, economic strengths, challenges, and key military strongholds. This assessment considers the potential strengths each region would inherit if the United States fragmented:
1. Pacific Coast (California, Oregon, Washington)
Characteristics: Progressive values, high-tech industries, focus on environmental initiatives, and a significant influence from trade with Asia.
Economic Strengths: Dominant tech sector (Silicon Valley), entertainment industry, agriculture, and international trade.
Challenges: High cost of living, water scarcity, and earthquake vulnerability.
Key Military Assets:
- Naval Bases: Naval Base San Diego (home to the largest naval fleet in the world), Naval Air Station Lemoore, and Naval Base Kitsap in Washington (houses nuclear submarines).
- Air Force Bases: Travis AFB in California, McChord Field (part of Joint Base Lewis-McChord) in Washington, and Edwards AFB in California.
- Marine Corps Bases: Camp Pendleton and Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms in California.
Strategic Importance: The Pacific Coast would have strong naval power, essential for controlling Pacific trade routes. However, logistical challenges may arise due to reliance on inland supplies.
2. Mountain West (Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and parts of Colorado)
Characteristics: Known for a rugged individualism and libertarian ethos, with a lower population density and strong military culture.
Economic Strengths: Rich in natural resources, agriculture, and tourism, particularly outdoor recreation and skiing.
Challenges: Geographic isolation from major markets and a reliance on federal subsidies.
Key Military Assets:
- ICBM Sites: Malmstrom AFB in Montana, which houses part of the U.S. Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) force, providing significant nuclear capabilities.
- Strategic Bases: Hill AFB in Utah for logistics and weapons testing.
- NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command): Based in Colorado, NORAD would become a central asset for airspace defense and missile warning.
Strategic Importance: This region would control a high concentration of nuclear deterrents, providing substantial defensive leverage. Its isolated geography could aid in defense but would limit access to trade.
3. Southwest (Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and parts of Texas and California)
Characteristics: Cultural diversity with strong Hispanic and Native American influences, and a focus on border security and immigration.
Economic Strengths: Thriving energy industry (particularly oil in Texas), tourism, and agriculture.
Challenges: Water scarcity and potential social tensions due to immigration issues.
Key Military Assets:
- Air Force Bases: Nellis AFB in Nevada (known for advanced aerial combat training) and Luke AFB in Arizona.
- Army Bases: Fort Bliss in Texas, one of the largest military installations, near the Mexico border.
- Missile Testing Facilities: White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, used for weapons testing and space research.
Strategic Importance: The Southwest’s military strength lies in advanced training facilities and proximity to the border, making it a key defense and testing hub. Its challenges with water scarcity could impact long-term stability.
4. Great Plains (North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and parts of Texas)
Characteristics: Predominantly conservative, with an economy deeply rooted in agriculture and energy.
Economic Strengths: Large-scale agriculture, oil, and gas production, as well as cattle ranching.
Challenges: Low population density, vulnerability to extreme weather, and economic dependence on resource extraction.
Key Military Assets:
- ICBM Fields: Minot AFB in North Dakota and F.E. Warren AFB in Wyoming, with nuclear missile silos critical to the U.S. nuclear triad.
- Army Bases: Fort Riley in Kansas, supporting armored and mechanized infantry.
- Strategic Bombers: Minot AFB also hosts B-52 bombers for strategic deterrence missions.
Strategic Importance: This region would wield substantial nuclear power with its ICBM fields and strategic bombers, though its economy could struggle due to its limited diversification and rural isolation.
5. The South (Southeast U.S. including parts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, and South Carolina)
Characteristics: Known for its strong conservative and religious culture, with a rapidly growing economy in urban centers like Atlanta, Dallas, and Nashville.
Economic Strengths: Energy production (particularly oil and gas in Texas and Louisiana), manufacturing, agriculture, and a growing tech sector.
Challenges: Poverty and healthcare disparities, vulnerability to hurricanes, and social and political divides.
Key Military Assets:
- Naval Bases: Naval Air Station Pensacola and Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia, the largest naval base in the world.
- Army Bases: Fort Bragg in North Carolina and Fort Benning in Georgia, important for infantry and airborne training.
- Air Force Bases: Eglin AFB in Florida and Barksdale AFB in Louisiana (home to B-52 bombers).
Strategic Importance: With its concentration of Army training bases and naval facilities, the South would be a military powerhouse with extensive ground forces, air capabilities, and naval strength.
6. Midwest/Rust Belt (Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and parts of Pennsylvania)
Characteristics: A region with a mix of political values, industrial history, and access to the Great Lakes.
Economic Strengths: Manufacturing, agriculture, and access to major freshwater resources (Great Lakes).
Challenges: Declining traditional manufacturing industries, aging infrastructure, and outmigration.
Key Military Assets:
- Army and Air National Guard: Heavy presence across the Midwest for reserve forces.
- Air Force Bases: Wright-Patterson AFB in Ohio, a center for aerospace research and development.
- Naval Presence on the Great Lakes: Smaller but strategically significant naval reserve units and Coast Guard stations.
Strategic Importance: The Midwest could leverage its manufacturing capabilities to support military needs, though its military presence would be less concentrated than other regions.
7. Northeast (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and New England)
Characteristics: A densely populated and economically powerful region with a major focus on finance, education, and healthcare.
Economic Strengths: Finance (Wall Street), technology, education, healthcare, and international trade through ports.
Challenges: High cost of living, densely populated urban areas, and reliance on aging infrastructure.
Key Military Assets:
- Naval Facilities: Naval Submarine Base New London in Connecticut and the Port of New York for Coast Guard and naval operations.
- Army and Marine Corps Bases: Fort Drum in New York and Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia.
- Air Force Bases: Hanscom AFB in Massachusetts, focused on technology development.
Strategic Importance: The Northeast’s military strength lies in its naval and Marine Corps facilities, critical for Atlantic operations. Its reliance on trade makes securing ports a priority.
8. Alaska and Hawaii
Characteristics: Likely to operate independently or in close cooperation with Pacific or Northwest regions.
Economic Strengths: Alaska has abundant natural resources (oil and gas), while Hawaii is a global tourism hub.
Challenges: Geographic isolation and high dependence on imports.
Key Military Assets:
- Alaska: Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and Eielson AFB for air defense, and Fort Greely for missile defense.
- Hawaii: Pearl Harbor (headquarters of the Pacific Fleet) and Marine Corps Base Hawaii for strategic control over the Pacific.
Strategic Importance: Alaska and Hawaii hold critical roles for Pacific defense and missile warning. Hawaii’s naval bases ensure control over much of the Pacific, while Alaska’s proximity to Russia provides strategic defense.
In summary, each region would inherit military strengths that align with its geography and resources. The Pacific Coast and South would be the strongest naval powers, Mountain West and Great Plains would have nuclear capabilities, and the Northeast and Midwest would maintain strategic manufacturing and reserve forces. Alaska and Hawaii’s isolation grants them strategic Pacific defense advantages, though they would face challenges in supply and support.
