More or Less: Behind the Stats Has Donald Trump ended seven 'unendable' wars?
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Oct 1, 2025 Stefan Wolff, a Professor of International Security at the University of Birmingham, joins to discuss Donald Trump's controversial claim of ending seven 'unendable' wars. He meticulously assesses various long-term conflicts and the implications of high-profile ceasefires. The conversation also touches on the accuracy of recent economic growth claims in the UK and examines the context behind alarming cancer statistics. Wolff's insights provide clarity on complex issues surrounding war, peace, and data interpretation.
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Ceasefires Aren't Lasting Peace
- Ceasefires are not the same as peace agreements and rarely end long conflicts permanently.
- Stefan Wolff argues Trump's actions achieved short-term de-escalation but not durable peace in the seven cases.
Tariff Threats Briefly Halted Border Clashes
- Trump reportedly threatened tariffs and spoke with leaders to press a Thailand–Cambodia ceasefire.
- The ceasefire soon broke down and clashes resumed, showing the fragility of that intervention.
Ceasefires Follow Outcomes More Than Mediation
- Pakistan and India attributed differing degrees of US involvement in their ceasefire, with India denying Trump's role.
- Wolff notes multiple actors were involved and the ceasefire may have followed battlefield outcomes more than mediation.
