This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
The United States has had a military presence worldwide, from the practically first day of its sovereignty.
The nineteenth-century viewed the U.S turn from a post-colonial and country to global power.
The U.S. has been implicated in many foreign invasions during its history. The United States invaded twenty-two countries just in the last 20 years. The attack on major general Qassem Soleimani is just the latest in a 245-year history of American military conflicts.
The map below is perhaps a little questionable. But, according to Congressional Research Service, most countries in the world have been affected by some form of military conflict with the United States.
America has been involved in declared wars against the United Kingdom (1775 – 1783 and 1812 – 1815), Canada (1812 – 1815), Algeria (1815), Mexico (1836, 1842, 1844, 1846-1848), Japan (1853-1854), Korea (1871 and 1950-1953), Philippines (1898 and 1899-1902), Cuba (1898), Spain (1898), Vietnam (1964-1973), Cambodia (1969-1973), Iraq (1991, and 2003-present), Kueit (1991), Oman (1991), Afghanistan (1998 and 2001-present). The U.S. also has been involved in World War I (Germany, Austria, Belgium) and World War II (Germany, Austria, Italy, Belgium, Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Morocco, Algeria, Japan, Philippines, Papua New Guinea).
The United States has been involved in some form of military conflicts and acitvity in France (1798-1800), French Guiana (1798-1800) Mexico (1818-1819), Cuba (1822-1825 and 1917-1922), Greece (1827, 2014), Indonesia (1832, 1838-1839), Arcgintina (1833, 1852-1853, 1890)Peru (1835-1836), Uriguay (1855, 1859), Nicaragua (1854, 1857, 1896, 1898, 1912 – 1925), Panama (1856, 1865, 1988-1989), Lebanon (1858, 1982-1983) Venesuela (1873,1895, 1902), Angola (1860), Puerto Rico (1898), Dominican Republic (1903-1904, 1965), Ethyopya (1993-1994), Syria (1903, 2017), Honduras (1911, 1983-1989), Hiati (1914, 1993-1996), Russia (1918-1922), Croatia (1919), Guatemala (1920), Germany (1948), Taiwan (1950-1955), Thailand (1952), Egipet (1956), Laos (1962-1975), Democratic Republic of Congo (1964), Iran (1980, 1920), El Salvador (1981), Chad (1983), Bolivia (1986), Saudabi Aravia (1990), Liberia (1990, 2003), Sierra Lione (1992), Sudan (1992-1993) Macedonia (1993-1994), Bosnia and Hertzegovina (1993-1999), Burundi (1994), Albania (1996-1998), Gabon (1997), Republic of Congo (1997), Sudan (1998), Kenia (1998), Tansania (1998), Serbia (1999-2000), Kosovo (1991-2001), South Sudan (2001), Mauritania (2003), Sinegal (2003), Eritea (2004-2006), Central African Republic (2011), Uganda (2011), Yemen (2012, 2016), Jiordania (2013), Niger (2013), Poland (2014), Ukraine (2015), Lithuania (2015), Cameroon (2015).
I think some in South America are missing. The USA invaded South American countries about 33 times between 1900 and 1930. Largely for Standard Oil .. it was called Gunboat Diplomacy, and was a repercussion of “The Monroe Doctrine”.
Alex
5 years ago
Gary Plazyk in Facebook comments wrote ” The map does not include that the US was attacked by the US in the American Civil War from 1861 to 1865… (credit to John C. Wiseman for noting this)”
That all depends on how you frame it. Technically the USA was attacked by a breakaway government which had seceded from the USA and rebranded itself as the Confederate States of America.
Beyond the bad spelling. The writer should have pointed out most of those wars were at the invitation of the UN or at the request of the legitimate government like Kuwait, he did miss state one of the countries NORTH Korea. The reason we were there was trying to keep the legitimate government in control that Russia and china were trying to oust to bring another communist country to power. But as with most people throw a fact out with no context and disregard the relevant facts shows a bit of bias. If someone said I killed 3 people I am a murderer correct. Now do I belong in prison or the electric chair. What is your answer? Now take that same fact and add the context 3 people broke in the house tried to kill my 3 year old son shot my wife and I killed them. Does your answer now change? that is context. that is what the above issues totally avoids.
that’s right context is everything, for instance we had to invade Iraq to get those weapons of mass destruction out of Saddam’s hands! oh, that’s right he didn’t have any, but we hung him anyway. Here’s a novel idea, how about we mind our own business like our founders intended.
Yes, Isolate ourselves from the rest of the world and we will be safe from such invasions as the Russians invading Ukraine. You probably think the U.S. should have stayed out of WW2 as well.
WW2 is different because Japan attacked the US. When the US is attacked it has no choice but to respond, however in cases like Iraq where we initiate the conflict it simply makes no sense. Also from a capitalist standpoint, it’s pointless since we spend so much money with little to no results.
you cant expect america to ”mind its own business” when its one of the most leading counties that influences the rest of the world. Same with China and Russia. Of course you’ll get mad at the US for getting involved when quite frankly it has no choice.
I think some in South America are missing. The USA invaded South American countries about 33 times between 1900 and 1930. Largely for Standard Oil .. it was called Gunboat Diplomacy, and was a repercussion of “The Monroe Doctrine”.
Gary Plazyk in Facebook comments wrote ” The map does not include that the US was attacked by the US in the American Civil War from 1861 to 1865… (credit to John C. Wiseman for noting this)”
That all depends on how you frame it. Technically the USA was attacked by a breakaway government which had seceded from the USA and rebranded itself as the Confederate States of America.
USA v.CSA.1861-65.
Beyond the bad spelling. The writer should have pointed out most of those wars were at the invitation of the UN or at the request of the legitimate government like Kuwait, he did miss state one of the countries NORTH Korea. The reason we were there was trying to keep the legitimate government in control that Russia and china were trying to oust to bring another communist country to power. But as with most people throw a fact out with no context and disregard the relevant facts shows a bit of bias. If someone said I killed 3 people I am a murderer correct. Now do I belong in prison or the electric chair. What is your answer? Now take that same fact and add the context 3 people broke in the house tried to kill my 3 year old son shot my wife and I killed them. Does your answer now change? that is context. that is what the above issues totally avoids.
that’s right context is everything, for instance we had to invade Iraq to get those weapons of mass destruction out of Saddam’s hands! oh, that’s right he didn’t have any, but we hung him anyway. Here’s a novel idea, how about we mind our own business like our founders intended.
Yes, Isolate ourselves from the rest of the world and we will be safe from such invasions as the Russians invading Ukraine. You probably think the U.S. should have stayed out of WW2 as well.
WW2 is different because Japan attacked the US. When the US is attacked it has no choice but to respond, however in cases like Iraq where we initiate the conflict it simply makes no sense. Also from a capitalist standpoint, it’s pointless since we spend so much money with little to no results.
your last sentence is wrong. As Ike well knew, war is a great way for the Military Industrial Complex to make lots of dough.
you cant expect america to ”mind its own business” when its one of the most leading counties that influences the rest of the world. Same with China and Russia. Of course you’ll get mad at the US for getting involved when quite frankly it has no choice.
So… Did you have to use agent orange in Vietnam as an act of self defence too?
smart alick
What about Chile, where the USA militarily supported the coup that raised Augusto Pinochet to power?
You forgot 1, The American Civil War.
US vs US
April 12, 1861 to May 26, 1865