In response to aggression in Asia the US implemented massive sanctions on Imperial Japan on July 26th, 1941. The sanctions froze assets within the United States, three-quarters of Japan’s overseas trade was blocked and oil exports to Japan were blocked. At the time over 80% of Japan’s imported oil supply was from the US.
Based on existing reserves Japan had a limited time before the country and the military would grind to a halt.
Japan could “lose face” and give in to American demands to end their wars of conquest or they could step up their offensives to secure needed resources through force and remove US influence in the Pacific.
Their decision was made perfectly clear 134 days later in the form of the attack on Pearl Harbor, on the morning of Sunday December 7th, 1941. The Imperial Japanese forces destroyed 188 planes, damaged 159, sunk six ships including 4 battleships, and damaged 13 more. The greatest cost of all was the more than 2400 Americans who were killed and almost 1200 who were wounded in the attack. The deadliest attack on Americans until 9/11.
I share this so people will understand that economic warfare is still warfare. Some countries will surrender and some will fight back, economically or militarily.
I am absolutely NOT saying we should not have put sanctions on Russia over the invasion of Ukraine. I am not defending Russia in any way…
However…
We should all be aware of the potential consequences of those actions and prepare accordingly…
Take care and God bless.