Here are the facts and strategy behind Trump’s claim that he has ‘ended 8 wars’.
Here are the facts and strategy behind Trump’s claim that he has ‘ended 8 wars’.
By Adem Kılıç, Political Scientist/Writer
With US President Donald Trump’s second term in office, the world has entered a new and significant period of chaos.
Of course, there was chaos before the Trump era. However, the chaos brought about by Trump is rapidly taking its place in history as a different reality, emerging in line with the ‘peace through strength’ strategy.
International analyses and headlines are now shaped by Trump’s ‘threats’ and ‘offers’ under headings such as land, underground resources and choosing sides.
From Greenland to Mexico, Panama to Venezuela, Palestine to the South Caucasus, Syria to Lebanon, Iran to Taiwan, Lebanon to South Africa, developments concerning almost every region of the world are being discussed in terms of US President Trump’s ‘threats’ and ‘offers’.
Either chaos or American interests
The renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the ‘Gulf of America’ to serve US interests, the threatening of Greenland, Venezuela, and even war-torn Ukraine for not offering their underground resources to the US, and the pressuring of all countries that undermine US support policies for Israel, even international institutions such as the UN and the ICC, are now almost commonplace.
However, although Trump is described by most analysts as a leader who makes scattered, even ‘unbalanced statements,’ all these examples show that he never actually changes his policy.
In other words, he is saying, ‘Either you choose chaos or you serve American interests’ with his ‘peace through strength’ strategy.
So much so that he subjects even his own allies, who have been completely under US control since the post-World War II order was established, to the same process and does not hesitate to squeeze Europe on economic and security issues.
Trump’s ‘fake successes’
Acting on this strategy, Trump is attempting to extract both personal political success stories and the narrative that the US is still the architect of the global order from the chaos he has created.
His frequent use of phrases such as ‘I ended eight wars’ and ‘Now everyone respects the US’ are slogans that draw attention to this approach.
So, which ‘eight wars’ did Trump end?
Let us briefly examine these points, each of which warrants separate analysis, within the scope of this analysis.
1-Azerbaijan-Armenia
Trump claimed that he ended the war between Azerbaijan and Armenia after taking office.
However, this war had already been ended by the Minsk Group, co-chaired by the US, Russia and France, over the course of 35 years. It was then resolved in just 44 days through the cooperation of Türkiye and Azerbaijan. In fact, it had already been resolved, and the parties had reached the final stage of negotiations.
Trump, however, brought the parties to the table at the White House with the threat that ‘an equation without the US in the region would not be healthy,’ and essentially just signed off on the ‘I ended the war’ propaganda.
2- Israel-Iran
One of the most important ‘wars’ that Trump claimed to have ‘ended’ was the 12-day exchange of missile attacks between Israel and Iran.
However, the situation is not at all as Trump claims. No official peace agreement has been signed between the two countries.
On the contrary, for the first time, the US entered into an actual war alongside Israel, bombing Iran and taking the hostility between the two countries to a new level.
3- India-Pakistan
Another ‘war’ that Trump claims to have ended is the conflict between India and Pakistan.
These conflicts, which have recurred at various times since the 1950s, particularly over the Kashmir issue, occurred once again during Trump’s second term.
Trump said that the conflicts ended thanks to his mediation. However, the Kashmir issue remains unresolved and the problems between the parties continue.
4- Kosovo-Serbia
One of Trump’s claims was that he ended a war between Kosovo and Serbia that never started.
Trump announced that he had prevented the war by threatening to completely halt trade between the two countries. However, there has been no progress or agreement regarding the disputes between the two countries.
5- Egypt-Ethiopia
Egypt and Ethiopia were also on Trump’s list of ‘wars’ he claimed to have ended.
Tensions between Egypt and Ethiopia have persisted for decades over water issues. Most recently, tensions rose again with Ethiopia’s construction of the Renaissance Dam on the Nile River.
However, there has never been any actual-armed conflict between the two countries, Trump never intervened in the process, and the issue continues unchanged.
6- Congo-Rwanda
Another ‘war’ that Trump claimed to have ended was the Congo-Rwanda war, which in fact never started.
The Republic of Congo accused Rwanda of supporting a rebel group calling itself M23.
Trump announced that he had ended the war by promising investment in the rich mineral deposits in both countries.
However, tensions between Congo and Rwanda continue, and hot conflicts persist from time to time.
7- Thailand-Cambodia
Trump also claimed to have ended the ‘war’ between Thailand and Cambodia.
Trump announced that he had ended the tension between the two countries by offering to lower customs duties, but did not speak about it again.
This is because the conflicts between the two countries continue and there is no agreement.
8- Israel-Palestine
The last war Trump claimed to have ended was Israel’s war of genocide.
However, despite more than a month having passed since the Egypt summit, Israel has not complied with any of the agreements it has signed throughout history, nor has it complied with the terms of Trump’s plan, continuing both its occupation and its oppression.
All the plan’s provisions defending the rights of the Palestinian people are slowly being shelved, and Israel is looking for an opportunity to return to occupation.
Conclusion:
All this information shows that it is impossible to describe any of these initiatives today as ‘the wars are over’ and ‘the US is respected’.
Trump is attempting to create a virtual history with narratives of ‘threats’ and ‘false success.’ Almost all the actors remain silent due to the US’s ‘peace through strength’ strategy.
But the truth is out there, and someone needs to say it. The king is naked!