The U.S. is waging a silent war on humanity in the pursuit of Washington, D.C.'s geopolitical priorities. Economic sanctions, largely imposed by the U.S. government, punish and coerce nations by imposing restrictions on a target country's trade and financial relations.
Since 2001, sanctions have been a tool of "first resort" in the American foreign policy toolbox. Despite being touted for preserving national security and human rights, sanctions are a collective punishment imposed on innocent civilians for the sins of their governments. According to a recent study by The Lancet Global Health, U.S. and E.U. sanctions were responsible for 564,258 deaths annually between 1971 and 2021, which is more than the annual number of battle-related casualties.
Sanctions trigger significant declines in living standards, with adverse effects on per capita income, poverty, and inequality, by inducing economic disruptions. Restrictions on imports deprive civilians of medicines, medical equipment, food, and basic services. Sanctioned societies often experience intense misery, malnourishment, and starvation. Appointed by the Human Rights Council as an independent expert, Idriss Jazairy (a former U.N. special rapporteur), argued that U.S. sanctions imposed on Cuba, Venezuela, and Iran constitute violations of international law, highlighting that "[sanctions] lead to the denial of basic human rights."
