Indeed, the political and diplomatic usefulness of sanctions is declining. For a long time, one could argue that sanctions were, despite their imperfect record, at least a preferable alternative to open war. After the US attacks on Venezuela and Iran, this claim no longer seems convincing. Instead of averting military action, sanctions are now just as frequently paving the way to violent escalation. A world of persistent economic wars will, sooner or later, spiral into actual warfare.

Yeah, because depriving an entire population of food, medicine, energy, and other critical supplies that inevitably leads to thousands of deaths isn’t “actual” warfare. Warfare is only when we’re put at risk!

United States smashing its sanctions button 5000000x in the last 20 years finally beginning to feel the heat of a world it has alienated.