There is a tension in this book's treatment of the G/WOT as a historical artefact. In recent years, when politicians and commentators have discussed terrorist violence, references to the WOT have been virtually nonexistent. From a certain vantage, the G/ WOT is indeed a thing of the past. Among some audiences, mention of the WOT may evoke nostalgia for an era of global politics that has been superseded by the many impactful events of the past 20 years or so. That said, the US continues to deploy military resources to combat transitional terrorist networks and non- state armed groups around the world. Washington sees jihadist violence as an ongoing national security concern and a persistent threat to its interests in the international arena. Counterterrorism remains a crucial component of US strategy, even if it has been eclipsed by other objectives, including the management of rivalries with great powers such as China and Russia.

It would be irresponsible to proclaim categorically that the G/WOT has ended. Returning to the various conceptualizations outlined in the Introduction, if it is understood purely as a set of defensive policies designed to enhance the security of the homeland and protect allied governments, it is important to note that many of these policies remain in place. Between 2021 and 2023, the US carried out counterterrorism operations in 78 countries, including ground combat in at least nine of these 78 cases (Savell 2023 ). As noted in Chapter 2 , the legal authorization enabling these actions, formulated in September 2001, remains on the books. But this is not to suggest that this mix of actions and behaviours on the part of the US government looks just as it did in the early 2000s; nor is it to imply that US strategy in this area has been static. Indeed, the material across Chapters 3 , 4 and 5 shows just the opposite: that the G/ WOT has always been a work in progress and that it has never stood still. However steadfast its globalized, militarized character, it has nonetheless featured various attempts at reform and recalibration. Many of the changes within the G/WOT were implemented to make it more sustainable. It should not come as a surprise that it is with us more than two decades after its proclamation.