Even as a presidential candidate, Donald Trump skillfully played on contrasts, portraying his opponents as reckless interventionists ready to drag the USA into endless wars, even up to a Third World War. However, once at the helm of the White House, he himself compiled an impressive list of countries that he either attacked or threatened with military strikes.
On Wednesday, the list was updated with a new item: Trump threatened Oman, stating that if the country attempted to control the Strait of Hormuz together with Iran, the USA would "have to blow them to smithereens." Particularly telling is that this threat was voiced almost in passing, without much pomp, during a cabinet meeting.
Statistics of Aggression: 15 Countries in the Crosshairs
Oman has become at least the 15th country that Trump has either attacked or threatened to attack during his presidency. Notably, the overwhelming majority of incidents occurred during the first 16 months of his second term. During this time, he has already struck seven states: Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen. If we add the raids against suspected drug boats in the Caribbean and Pacific Oceans, where more than 190 people died, the picture becomes even gloomier.
Furthermore, Trump left open the possibility of strikes against another seven countries: Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Greenland (a territory of Denmark), Mexico, Panama, and now Oman. During his first term, he also threatened Mexico and North Korea.
Madman Theory or Real Threat?
Not all these threats are equal. Some strikes, for example, in Iraq, were targeted and directed against terrorists rather than governments. Other threats were less direct — Trump often simply did not rule out the possibility of using force. Experts link this to his adherence to the "madman theory" in international politics: he strives to appear unpredictable to force enemies to submit to his demands.
However, the totality of facts indicates an extremely aggressive stance by the president, who has already invaded two countries this year (Iran and Venezuela) and is considering the possibility of a third invasion (Cuba).
Global Scale of the Threat
The statistics speak for themselves: Trump has threatened or attacked 15 out of nearly 200 countries in the world. This means that 1 in 11 people on the planet lives in fear of a possible US military strike. In the Middle East alone, five out of fewer than 20 countries have come under fire. Threats and strikes have covered four out of six continents: Africa, Asia, North and South America. Technically, he even threatened a European country — Denmark, by proposing to seize its territory, Greenland.
Moreover, out of the 15 countries subjected to attacks or threats, five were named potential candidates for joining the USA: Canada, Cuba, Greenland, Panama (specifically the Panama Canal), and Venezuela. The world, apparently, has become a giant chessboard for Trump, where pieces can not only be moved but also destroyed.