Why America Cannot End Wars

The problem with American peacemaking is no longer simply that Washington cannot stop today’s wars; it is that the power expected to end them is increasingly a participant in them.

From Mediator to Participant

Since October 7, 2023, Washington has been Israel’s indispensable military supporter. The scale of that commitment expanded substantially after the Gaza war began. According to the US Congressional Research Service, legislation passed in 2024 included US$3.5 billion in additional Foreign Military Financing for Israel, US$4 billion for missile defence and another US$1.2 billion for the Iron Beam defence system, on top of regular US assistance.

Washington was therefore never an external observer of the war in Gaza. It supplied the weapons and defensive capabilities that helped sustain Israel’s military campaign while simultaneously trying to negotiate ceasefires and restrain Israeli actions. American officials could exert considerable influence over Israel, but they were attempting to mediate a conflict in which their own government had made a substantial investment in one side’s military capacity.

The distinction between supporter and belligerent has subsequently become even thinner elsewhere in the region. American forces helped defend Israel against Iranian missile and drone attacks in 2024, while US forces were simultaneously engaged militarily against Iran-aligned groups. By 2026, the distinction disappeared altogether in the confrontation with Iran. The current war began with joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. Iran retaliated against American forces and US allies across the Gulf, while Washington imposed a blockade on Iranian ports. Seven months later, the conflict remains........

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