In his second term, US President Donald Trump has embraced an assertive foreign policy agenda, launching a series of military strikes and threats against a growing list of countries. From Somalia to Greenland, the commander-in-chief has targeted nations across the globe, often citing national security concerns or the protection of American interests.
Despite worldwide backlash, Trump has continued to pursue his “America First” approach, undermining long-standing alliances and disrupting the international order. His actions, driven by a mix of narcissistic posturing, domestic political signalling and personal financial interests, have left the US increasingly isolated, its credibility eroded.
The Independent’s investigation examines the countries Trump has attacked or threatened in his first 12 months back in office – from air strikes against ISIS in Somalia to the attempted seizure of Greenland – and explores where he could strike next.
In Somalia, Trump has authorised over 135 strikes against the militant group ISIS and the Islamist paramilitary al-Shabab, more than the entire Bush Jr, Obama and Biden presidencies combined. He has also verbally attacked the country, calling it a “hell hole” and its citizens “garbage”.
Iraq has also faced the president’s wrath, with US forces conducting counterterrorism operations against ISIS, including the killing of the group’s second-in-command. Trump praised the strike as an example of “peace through strength”.
Yemen, too, has been the target of Trump’s aggression, with the US launching a 52-day bombing campaign against Houthi rebels in retaliation for attacks on ships in the Red Sea. Hundreds of Houthi fighters were killed, and over $1 billion was spent on the operation.
The president’s belligerence has also extended to Iran, with the US intervening in the “Twelve Day War” between Israel and Iran last June. Trump boasted of a “very successful attack” on Iranian nuclear sites, though tensions have since resumed.
Perhaps most dramatically, Trump orchestrated the overnight capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, leading to the decapitation of the government in Caracas. The US has also been targeting alleged “narco-terrorist boats” off the Caribbean coast, with at least 123 people reported killed.
Elsewhere, Trump has threatened military action against Cuba and Colombia, while his long-standing desire to purchase Greenland has sparked a brewing crisis with NATO allies. Canada, too, has found itself in the president’s crosshairs, with Trump toying with the idea of annexing the country as the “51st state”.
As the world grapples with the consequences of Trump’s transactional disruption, experts warn that the future could hold further unpredictable and destabilising actions from a president seemingly intent on rewriting the rules of the international system – to America’s own detriment.