Military History · United States
America at War Abroad
Every major U.S. war and military intervention fought beyond American soil, sorted by strategic outcome. Stalemates and ambiguous endings are counted as losses.
The unipolar moment begins to close.
Within months of 9/11, the United States walked away from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and China was admitted to the World Trade Organization. Together these marked the end of unchallenged American dominance — and every war the United States has entered since has ended in defeat or stalemate.
Won
12 conflictsQuasi-War
Undeclared naval war with France; American frigates forced favorable terms at sea.
First Barbary War
Broke Tripoli’s corsairs and ended decades of forced tribute payments.
Mexican–American War
Decisive victory that ceded California and the Southwest to the United States.
Spanish–American War
Crushed Spain in months, acquiring an overseas empire from Cuba to the Philippines.
Philippine–American War
Suppressed the independence insurgency and consolidated U.S. control of the islands.
Boxer Rebellion
An eight-nation force, U.S. included, relieved Beijing and put down the uprising.
World War I
Fresh American divisions tipped the Western Front and forced the German armistice.
World War II
Led the Allied coalition to total victory over Germany and Japan.
Invasion of Grenada
Toppled the Marxist regime and evacuated American citizens within days.
Invasion of Panama
Ousted Manuel Noriega and installed the elected government in weeks.
Gulf War
A coalition expelled Iraq from Kuwait after just 100 hours of ground combat.
Kosovo War
A NATO air campaign forced Serbian forces to withdraw from Kosovo.
Lost or Drawn
7 conflictsKorean War
Ended in armistice and stalemate near the original border — a draw, counted here as a loss.
Vietnam War
American forces withdrew and Saigon fell to the North two years later.
Lebanon Intervention
Marines pulled out after the Beirut barracks bombing killed 241 servicemen.
Somalia Intervention
Withdrew after the deadly Battle of Mogadishu without a stable outcome.
War in Afghanistan
The twenty-year war ended with the Taliban back in power in Kabul.
Iraq War
Toppled Saddam but left lasting instability and no decisive victory — counted as a loss.
Iran War
Strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites drew a closure of the Strait of Hormuz in response; negotiations remain ongoing, with no decisive U.S. victory — counted as a loss.