Host nations may try US military personnel for a crime committed locally except when the?

The situation where host nations may not try US military personnel for a crime committed locally is specifically when the crime involves another US citizen. This principle is grounded in the status of forces agreements (SOFAs) or other similar agreements between the United States and host nations, which often stipulate that the home country retains jurisdiction over cases involving their military personnel, particularly when the victim is also a citizen of that same country.

In this context, maintaining a jurisdictional boundary serves to uphold legal protections for military personnel, ensuring that they are subject to the military justice system, which is designed to handle offenses committed by military members both on and off base. This arrangement promotes consistency in the legal treatment of service members and reflects concerns about national sovereignty and the relationship between the US and the host nation.

The other options involve scenarios where jurisdiction may be shared or transferred, such as offenses occurring on military bases or involving third-country citizens, which typically allow for the host nation to assert its legal authority.