The destroyer for bases deal, also known as the Destroyers for Bases Agreement, was an agreement reached between the United States and the United Kingdom in 1940. The deal was made during the early days of World War II and was aimed at strengthening the defensive capabilities of the United States and the United Kingdom against the Axis powers.
Under the terms of the deal, the United States agreed to transfer 50 aging destroyers to the United Kingdom in exchange for the use of naval and air bases in British territories in the Western Hemisphere, particularly in the Caribbean and Newfoundland. The deal was seen as a way for the United States to provide support to the United Kingdom without formally entering the war. The bases would be used to protect the vital shipping lanes between the US and Europe, and to protect the Panama Canal.
This agreement was seen as a crucial step towards the United States entering World War II, as it allowed the US to aid the UK and gain access to the military bases, which would be essential for the defense of the US. The deal marked an important moment in the history of US-UK relations and was an important step in the United States' eventual entry into the war.