The borders of the US Empire are not physical. They are financial. It all revolves around the Petrodollar system ( https://youtu.be/JN5q_0H41VE or any other "Petrodollar explained" video on YT).
Basically the US cut a deal with the Saudis decades ago "price your oil only in US dollars and we'll support your monarchy". Bottom line is that any industrial nation that needs energy must hold US dollars to purchase oil, which vastly inflates global demand for dollars, artificially supporting our currency and also essentially acting as a tax on the global economy. US hegemony is essentially reliant on the US military keeping everyone else in line with regards to oil pricing as well as central banking. Consider:
Iran opened a non-dollar-denominated oil burse in 2008. Promptly sanctioned and eventually cut off from the SWIFT banking system. ( https://apjjf.org/-China-Hand-/2719/article.html ) Invasion was discussed. Remember McCain's "Bomb bomb Iran" moment? But the US military was already overstretched and in no position to crack open Iran (a MUCH tougher nut than Iraq or Afghanistan).
Some websites have argued that after Ukraine's revolution all their gold reserves disappeared as well, possibly into US/European hands. I haven't found super-reliable data on that though.
Point is, these are the borders of the empire, one that is maintained by the global distribution of US military might, as well as international organizations such as the IMF. Before anyone can posit solutions to American's bank-busting spending on the military-industrial complex, you must first understand the hidden context of what really motivates American actions on the world stage.
Basically the US cut a deal with the Saudis decades ago "price your oil only in US dollars and we'll support your monarchy". Bottom line is that any industrial nation that needs energy must hold US dollars to purchase oil, which vastly inflates global demand for dollars, artificially supporting our currency and also essentially acting as a tax on the global economy. US hegemony is essentially reliant on the US military keeping everyone else in line with regards to oil pricing as well as central banking. Consider:
Saddam Hussein ditched USD for EUR in 2000 ( https://www.theguardian.com/business/2003/feb/16/iraq.theeur... ). Deposed in 2003.
Iran opened a non-dollar-denominated oil burse in 2008. Promptly sanctioned and eventually cut off from the SWIFT banking system. ( https://apjjf.org/-China-Hand-/2719/article.html ) Invasion was discussed. Remember McCain's "Bomb bomb Iran" moment? But the US military was already overstretched and in no position to crack open Iran (a MUCH tougher nut than Iraq or Afghanistan).
Qaddafi wanted to create a new pan-African currency, starting in Libya with gold/oil-backed dinars. Deposed in 2011. ( https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2016/01/06/new-hillary-... )
Some websites have argued that after Ukraine's revolution all their gold reserves disappeared as well, possibly into US/European hands. I haven't found super-reliable data on that though.
Point is, these are the borders of the empire, one that is maintained by the global distribution of US military might, as well as international organizations such as the IMF. Before anyone can posit solutions to American's bank-busting spending on the military-industrial complex, you must first understand the hidden context of what really motivates American actions on the world stage.