Explained in plain English
Do sanctions work?
Sanctions are penalties, usually economic, imposed by one country or group on another to try and force a change in behaviour. In our story, Trump's anger at European allies for not backing his 'war in Iran' likely refers to their refusal to support US sanctions against Iran, which he hoped would cripple their economy and force political concessions. Whether sanctions actually achieve their goals is a really complex question.
Stories that explain this
Trump tells NATO allies he wants loyalty, not moneyQuestions this opens up
Are sanctions fair? Who decides sanctions? What is economic warfare?This explainer came from a news story
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