The 2020s
11 active conflicts · Trump, Biden
3 conflicts started · 5 ended
$4819B
Military Budget (Total)
11
Active Conflicts
$2.6T
War Cost
2,640
US Deaths
$803B
Avg/Year
$895B
Peak Year
$714B
Low Year
373,680
Civilian Deaths
2
Authorized
9
Unauthorized
📖 The 2020s in Context
The 2020s opened with the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal (2021), ending America's longest war — but not its military commitments. The Ukraine proxy war ($66.9B and counting), Red Sea operations against Houthis, ongoing counter-terrorism in Africa and the Middle East, and the 2026 Iran strikes demonstrate that the era of "endless wars" shows no sign of ending. Military spending has exceeded $800B annually, and the 2001 AUMF remains the legal basis for operations against groups that didn't exist on 9/11.
📊 Military Spending Trend
Military Spending by Year (Billions)
🎭 Cultural Context
The chaotic Kabul withdrawal dominated headlines. "Was it worth it?" became the defining question of the Afghan war. Ukraine support became partisan. Military recruitment crisis — all services missed targets. The all-volunteer force showed signs of strain.
🏛️ Presidents
🔥 Conflicts Started
Ukraine Military Support
✅Post-Cold War2022–Present · $66.9B · Ongoing
“We will support Ukraine for as long as it takes....”
Red Sea / Houthi Campaign
❌War on Terror2023–2025 · $4.6B · Ceasefire
“These attacks must stop. We will not hesitate to protect lives and the free flow of commerce....”
Iran Strikes (2026)
❌War on Terror2026–Present · $2B · Developing
“The founders gave Congress the power to declare war precisely because they knew executives, left unc...”
⚔️ All Active Conflicts
War in Afghanistan
War on Terror2001–2021 · $2.3T · Defeat
Global War on Terror (Other Operations)
War on Terror2001–Present · $60B · Ongoing
Global Drone Campaign
War on Terror2004–Present · $30B · Ongoing
Somalia (AFRICOM Operations)
War on Terror2007–Present · $4.5B · Ongoing
Niger & Sahel Operations
War on Terror2013–2024 · $600M · Withdrawal
Syrian Civil War Intervention
War on Terror2014–2025 · $30B · Ongoing / ISIS territorial defeat
War Against ISIS
War on Terror2014–Present · $115B · Partial Victory
Yemen War (Saudi Support)
War on Terror2015–2025 · $10B · Ongoing humanitarian catastrophe
Ukraine Military Support
Post-Cold War2022–Present · $66.9B · Ongoing
Red Sea / Houthi Campaign
War on Terror2023–2025 · $4.6B · Ceasefire
Iran Strikes (2026)
War on Terror2026–Present · $2B · Developing
📅 Key Events
- ▸2020 Trump orders withdrawal of ~700 troops — Somalia (AFRICOM)
- ▸2022 Biden redeploys troops to Somalia — Somalia (AFRICOM)
- ▸2022 Russia invades Ukraine February 24. US sends $40B emergency aid package — Ukraine Aid
- ▸2022 HIMARS provided — game-changer on the battlefield — Ukraine Aid
- ▸2023 Brown University estimates US counterterror in 78 countries — GWOT (Other)
- ▸2023 Niger military coup; junta orders US forces to leave — Niger/Sahel
- ▸2023 Abrams tanks and Patriot missile systems delivered — Ukraine Aid
- ▸2023 Houthis begin attacking Red Sea shipping after Gaza war starts — Red Sea (Houthis)
- ▸2023 Operation Prosperity Guardian coalition formed (December) — Red Sea (Houthis)
- ▸2024 Full US withdrawal completed; $110M base abandoned — Niger/Sahel
- ▸2024 $61B supplemental approved after months of Republican holdout — Ukraine Aid
- ▸2024 F-16s arrive from European allies with US training — Ukraine Aid
- ▸2024 US/UK launch airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen (January 12) — Red Sea (Houthis)
- ▸2024 Over 100 strikes conducted through 2024 — Houthis undeterred — Red Sea (Houthis)
- ▸2025 Trump administration reduces aid; pushes for negotiations — Ukraine Aid
- ▸2025 Ceasefire negotiations; US scales back operations — Red Sea (Houthis)
- ▸2026 Multiple AFRICOM strikes continue against al-Shabaab and ISIS-Somalia — Somalia (AFRICOM)
- ▸2026 AFRICOM still striking ISIS-Somalia; 3,400 US troops remain in Iraq/Syria — Anti-ISIS
- ▸2026 Trump declares "massive armada heading to Iran" (January 28) — Iran 2026
- ▸2026 Largest US buildup in Middle East since 2003 Iraq invasion (February) — Iran 2026
- ▸2026 Trump says regime change would be "the best thing that could happen" (February 13) — Iran 2026
- ▸2026 US and Israel strike Iranian nuclear and military targets (February 28) — Iran 2026