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The Cost

Topic

Foreign Policy

Alliances, aid, sanctions, military action, and diplomacy - how each foreign-policy decision landed abroad and what it cost the United States at home.

decisions
23
severe or critical
11
sources cited
137

All foreign policy decisions, newest first

  1. Iran war drains arsenal; allies told to wait years

    After the war drew down large shares of US missile stocks, allies were warned that key weapons deliveries could slip by up to five years.

  2. The ceasefire lasted three weeks

    On July 8, 2026 Trump declared the June deal 'over' and the Iran war resumed - strikes, a blockade, and an oil spike.

  3. War ends in a memo pledging $300B to rebuild Iran

    The administration says no US taxpayer money funds the $300B - regional partners would, with the mechanism unresolved.

  4. Months-long US war with Iran shuts the Strait of Hormuz

    A war of more than three months and a 66-day naval blockade choked Hormuz shipping; a Harvard expert says it will cost over $1 trillion all-in.

  5. Leaked Ukraine plan tilts toward Russia

    Draft framework would require Kyiv to cede Donbas and renounce NATO.

  6. US boat strikes kill 200+; campaign widens to Venezuela

    Lethal strikes on alleged drug boats, begun before Congress was notified, escalated into a direct Venezuela intervention.

  7. India tariff doubled to 50% over Russian oil

    A penalty tariff strained a key Indo-Pacific partner before being lifted.

  8. Ukraine intel restricted from Five Eyes

    A DNI memo reportedly barred sharing Ukraine peace-talk intelligence with the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

  9. Foreign service loses 25% in 2025

    1,100+ civil servants and 246 foreign service officers received layoff notices in July 2025.

  10. Brazil tariff over Bolsonaro trial struck down

    Trump's 50% tariff, explicitly tied to Bolsonaro's prosecution, was vacated by the Supreme Court in Feb 2026; a new 25% Section 301 tariff took effect July 22, 2026.

  11. US strikes Iran's nuclear sites; ceasefire

    Iran's enriched uranium stockpile location remains unaccounted for after the strikes.

  12. US funding cuts force UN peacekeeping cut

    Withheld dues and arrears triggered a 25% global force reduction.

  13. Yemen strike plans shared in Signal chat with a journalist

    Hegseth shared F-18 launch timelines in a chat that included a news editor.

  14. Order guts Voice of America broadcasts

    Voice of America went mostly silent; a court-ordered restoration is on hold pending appeal.

  15. US suspends military aid to Ukraine

    A nearly week-long intelligence blackout coincided with a Russian strike on Odesa's port.

  16. Trump and Vance confront Zelensky publicly

    The televised confrontation derailed a planned minerals-deal signing and preceded US military aid suspension; the deal was ultimately signed in April 2025.

  17. Trump fires top military leaders and JAGs

    Joint Chiefs chairman, Navy chief, and service JAGs fired without cause.

  18. NATO Article 5 commitment publicly questioned

    Sustained pressure on allies came alongside public questioning of the mutual-defense guarantee.

  19. US sanctions ICC prosecutor and judges

    An executive order authorized sanctions on Court personnel in response to warrants for Israeli leaders.

  20. US exits UN rights bodies, defunds UNRWA

    An executive order pulled the US from rights and cultural institutions.

  21. Trump proposes displacing ~2M Gaza residents

    Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, and UAE all rejected the plan within hours.

  22. US exits the World Health Organization

    The exit ended US participation in WHO flu surveillance and cut off disease data other countries share for early pandemic warning.

  23. US threatens to take Greenland, Panama Canal, Canada

    Threats toward allies strained relations while Canada retaliated against US tariffs.