Trump's Remarks on Global Conflicts
Ex-US President Donald Trump declared that he has finished seven wars in office and will finish an eighth. During his trip to West Asia aboard Air Force One for the Gaza peace talks, he said that he wants less fighting in Gaza. Trump reported that he was informed there was a war to be expected between Pakistan and Afghanistan and that he would put an end to it when he returned.
Trump clarified that he uses economic leverage, including tariffs, to prevent wars. He gave the example of India-Pakistan war, saying hostilities ended within 24 hours after he threatened both countries with tariffs ranging from 100% to 200%. Tariffs, for Trump, were the chief tool to win peace.
Trump's Plan for the Russia-Ukraine War
Trump threatened signing off on the transfer of the Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine if Russia failed to negotiate over the issue of Ukraine. He said it would pressure the Russian government and that it was the right thing to do.
He made the remark soon after a telephonic conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. While on the call, he was discussing providing Tomahawk missiles in a bid to assist in defending Ukraine.
Russian Response to the Missile Offer
The Russian President Vladimir Putin reacted strongly to the remark by Trump. He issued a threat that deploying Tomahawk missiles in Ukraine would badly damage Moscow-Washington relations.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also stated that it would escalate tensions around the globe to do so. He further stated that if one views a missile coming towards Russia at a remote distance, then it can be considered a nuclear attack. He went on to state that only the strategists of the military could decide what was best for Russia in such a situation.
Overview of the Tomahawk Missile
The Tomahawk missile has been the most commonly used American arms for over three decades. America has employed it in its war against Iraq, Syria, Libya, the Gulf, and Yemen.
Produced for the first time by General Dynamics in the Cold War, the Tomahawk was transferred to the United States military in 1983. The missile is a land-attack cruise missile shot from ships or submarines. The missile is 5.6 meters in length and has a range of close to 1,600 kilometers. The missile travels at subsonic speeds of around 880 kilometers per hour and can be equipped with a 450-kilogram conventional warhead.
Because it has the capability to fly low—30 to 35 meters above ground level—it cannot be picked up on radar until it is almost upon its target. The US military has equipped more than 140 ships and submarines with the ability to fire Tomahawks.
The Role of the Tomahawk in Previous Wars
The Tomahawk was the first U.S. missile fired in the 1991 Gulf War, Operation Desert Storm. During the 42-day conflict, 297 Tomahawks were launched and 282 hit their targets.
All these missiles cost around $2 million and are provided with advanced navigation systems like GPS and inertial guidance. It is able to fly pre-loaded maps and replan its route according to in-flight data links. It even possesses a capability to stop a mission mid-air when required.
The precision and flexibility of Tomahawk make it a critical weapon for U.S. military operations.
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