Country rankings
Enemies of the United States
Enemies of the United States: compare 22 countries on 2 metrics.
US Enemy Countries
2 values across 22 entries
Data
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22 countries
 Afghanistan | Enemy | Gave asylum to Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda, who committed the 9/11 attacks while residing in the country. In retaliation, the US invaded, deposed the ruling Taliban government, and installed a new government. However, the Taliban, known for human rights offenses and repressio… |
 Belarus | Enemy | Frequent Russia ally accused by US of excessive human rights violations, suspiciously unfair elections, sheltering Saddam Hussein. Sides with Russia in was against Ukraine. Has in turn accused US of interfering with its internal and external affairs. |
 Cambodia | Former enemy | U.S.-Cambodia relations collapsed in the early 1970s after the U.S. backed the Lon Nol government against the Khmer Rouge, followed by the Khmer Rouge’s genocidal regime and its hostility toward the U.S. Relations remained strained during Vietnam’s occupation of Cambodia (1979… |
 Central African Republic | Former enemy | While U.S.-CAR relations were historically positive, repeated coups, political instability, and violent rebellions led to multiple embassy closures, most recently in 2012 due to security threats. The U.S. has maintained only limited engagement, focusing on humanitarian aid and… |
 China | Enemy | Like Russia, seeks to usurp and/or undermine US global leadership in many categories, including international economic influence, political influence, and Olympic medal count. |
 Cuba | Enemy | Cuba has been considered an enemy of the United States since the early 1960s, when Fidel Castro's government nationalized American-owned properties and allied with the Soviet Union. This led to an economic embargo and the severing of diplomatic relations. Despite a brief thaw … |
 Eritrea | Enemy | Relations, established after Eritrea’s 1993 independence, have deteriorated over authoritarian rule, lack of elections, human rights abuses, and Eritrea’s involvement in the Tigray War. U.S. sanctions in 2021 and 2022, along with increasing public criticism, have worsened the … |
 Iran | Enemy | While the US and Iran once enjoyed friendly relations, the 1979-18 hostage crisis, in which 52 Americans were held hostage in Iran for more 444 days during the Iranian revolution (in retaliation for US support of the country's former government), marked the end of those relati… |
 Laos | Former enemy | Relations started in 1950 and continued after Laos’ independence. The U.S. fought a secret war supporting the Royal Lao government and Hmong allies during the Vietnam War. After the 1975 communist takeover, relations cooled but were never severed and were fully restored in 199… |
 Libya | Former enemy | Former leader Muammar Gaddafi and his government were known to fund terror attacks against the US in the 1980s. However, relations have warmed since the 2011 overthrow of Gaddafi, with the US frequently aiding the current government's fight against ISIL militants seeking to se… |
 Myanmar | Enemy | Myanmar–United States relations have been strained especially after the 1988 military coup, and worsened with repeated military crackdowns and the 2021 coup. The U.S. has imposed sanctions, condemned human rights abuses, and suspended cooperation. |
 Nicaragua | Former enemy | Nicaragua Former enemy Relations are currently stable, but the U.S. frequently intervened in Nicaraguan affairs during the 20th century, including funding Contra rebels against the Sandinista government in the 1980s. Tensions have eased since 1990, with ongoing cooperation des… |
 Niger | Former enemy | Relations between Niger and the United States have generally been close and cooperative, especially in counter-terrorism, trade, and development. However, in August 2023, Niger's military junta severed diplomatic ties with the US following a coup. In 2024, Niger ended its secu… |
 North Korea | Enemy | Held 52 Americans hostage from late 1979 until early 1981 (in retaliation for US support of the country's former government) as part of the Iranian revolution. The US severed diplomatic ties with Iran in 1980 and had not renewed them as of 2023. Iran's uneven human rights reco… |
 Russia | Enemy | Long-running rival (as USSR and later as Russia) which actively seeks to usurp and/or undermine US global leadership in many categories, ranging from international influence and military might to Olympic medal count. Has shown imperialistic tendencies, such as when it annexed … |
 Somalia | Former enemy | The U.S. supported Ethiopia against Somalia during the 1964 Ethiopian-Somali War and had a complicated relationship during the Ogaden War. Relations worsened after Somalia’s government collapse in the early 1990s, but the U.S. never severed ties. The U.S. formally reestablishe… |
 South Sudan | Enemy | Relations deteriorated sharply in 2025 after the U.S. revoked all South Sudanese visas and suspended new issuances, citing the country's refusal to accept deported nationals. U.S. officials accused South Sudan of undermining bilateral cooperation, while South Sudan claimed the… |
 Sudan | Former enemy | Has historically sponsored terrorism against the US and responded to insurgent activity in its own Darfur region by committing ethnic cleansing. As with Libya, relations have improved in recent years. However, as of 2023, the government is unstable, as different factions of th… |
 Syria | Enemy | Severed relations with the US in 2012 in response to American support of the rebel side in the Syrian Civil War. Country is considered a dictatorship with poor human rights protections and a rumored tendency to shelter terrorists such as al-Qaeda. |
 Venezuela | Enemy | Relations soured in early 2000s as then-president Hugo Chávez declared himself socialist and anti-imperialist. Accused US of covert attempts to undermine government on multiple occasions, severed diplomatic ties on 2019. |
 Yemen | Enemy | Considered a major hub for al-Qaeda. Though the country has attempted to ally with the US to root out al-Qaeda operatives in the past, many US officials feel Yemen could do more. Country is currently mired in civil unrest. |
 Zimbabwe | Enemy | The U.S. recognized Zimbabwe at independence in 1980 and initially provided significant aid. Relations deteriorated from the early 2000s over alleged human rights abuses, leading to targeted sanctions, suspension of non-humanitarian aid, and strained diplomatic ties, though hu… |
Quick answers
- Where does this enemies of the united states data come from?
- Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: Americans Continue to View China as the U.S.'s Greatest Enemy - Gallup; Foreign relations of the United States - Wiki; Iran-US relations - Wiki; Cuba–United States relations - Wiki.