Critical Impact On U.S. Interests

The following conflicts are likely to trigger U.S. military involvement or threatens the supply of critical U.S. strategic resources.

 

Taliban In Afghanistan

Region: Asia & Pacific

Impact On U.S. Interests: Critical

Conflict Status: Worsening

Type Of Conflict: Civil War

8,400 Number Of U.S. Troops Remaining

12,930 Number Of NATO Troops Remaining

$17 Billion U.S. Foreign Aid Dispersed

 

Civil War In Syria

Region: Middle East & North Africa

Impact On U.S. Interests: Critical 

Conflict Status: Worsening 

Type Of Conflict: Civil War 

300 – 500 Approximate Number Of U.S. Special Operation Troops

20,000 – 31,500 Estimated Size Of Islamic State Fighters In Syria 

4,957,907 Estimated Number Of Registered Syrian Refugees 

 

Territorial Disputes In The South China Sea

Region: Asia & Pacific 

Impact On U.S. Interests: Critical 

Conflict Status: Worsening 

Type Of Conflict: Territorial Dispute 

11 Billion Estimated Barrels Of Oil In The South China Sea 

190 Trillion Estimated Number Of Cubic Feet Of Natural Gas In The South China Sea 

$5.3 Trillion Total Annual Trade Passing Through The South China Sea 

 

 

Tensions In The East China Sea

 

Region: Asia & Pacific 

Impact On U.S. Interests: Critical 

Conflict Status: Unchanging 

Type Of Conflict: Territorial Dispute 

81,000 Sq. Miles Total Area Of Disputed Maritime Boundary

8 Number of Disputed Island In The East China Sea 

200 Million Estimated Barrels Of Oil Reserves In The East China Sea 

 

North Korea Crisis

Region: Asia & Pacific 

Impact On U.S. Interests: Critical 

Conflict Status: Worsening 

Type Of Conflict: Interstate 

10 – 16 Estimated Number Of Nuclear Weapons 

Over 100 Estimated Number Of State Officials Executed Under Kim Jong Un 

28,500 Number Of U.S. Troops In South Korea 

 

War Against Islamic State In Iraq

 

Region: Middle East & North Africa

Impact On U.S. Interests: Critical

Conflict Status: Unchanging 

Type Of Conflict: Civil War 

More Than 6,000  Estimated Number Of U.S. Military Personnel In Iraq 

7,248 Estimated Number Of U.S. Strikes Against Islamic State Targets In Iraq 

3.2 Million Estimated Number Of Displaced People Since January 2014 

 

Civil War In Libya

Region: Middle East & North Africa 

Impact On U.S. Interests: Critical 

Conflict Status: Unchanging 

Type Of Conflict: Civil War 

5,000 – 8,000  Estimated Number Of Islamic State Fighters In Libya 

434,869 Estimated Number Of Internally Displaced Persons 

Asnar Al-Sharia ISLAMIC STATE Terrorist Groups