Euphemistic base terminology lets officials deny the existence of U.S. bases.

Evidence

Crucially, the “operating site” nomenclature and the smaller size of the bases often let U.S. officials insist that there is “no U.S. base” in the area. Instead, officials refer to the base as just a “site,” or, alternatively, as a “forward operating location” that’s a guest of the host country. — David Vine, Base Nation_ How U.S. Military Bases…, 137

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines ‘forward operating site’ terminology and its rhetorical purpose.
• XREF: Connects to the broader pattern of euphemism in military/political language, and to the reader’s knowledge of how ‘temporary’ framing circumvents legal prohibitions.