usled

US-led is a hyphenated adjective used to describe actions, coalitions, or initiatives that are organized or directed by the United States, typically in a multilateral framework with allied nations or partners. The label signals that the United States plays a leading or coordinating role, although other countries may participate as part of a broader coalition or partnership.

In military and security contexts, US-led coalitions have been formed to achieve strategic objectives such as countering aggression, safeguarding international security, or counterterrorism. Notable examples include the Gulf War of 1990–1991, where a broad coalition led by the United States sought to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait; the invasions of Afghanistan (2001) and Iraq (2003) as part of the early Global War on Terror; and the multinational campaign against ISIS in Iraq and Syria during the mid-2010s, in which the United States played a leading role.

Beyond military actions, the term is used to describe US-led diplomatic efforts, sanctions regimes, and development or humanitarian initiatives conducted in coordination with international organizations or regional partners. The phrase thus encompasses a range of activities that are framed around American leadership or central coordinating responsibility.

Critics sometimes question the legitimacy, burden-sharing, and long-term outcomes of US-led initiatives, pointing to concerns about civilian harm, regional stability, or the effects of unilateral action. The term remains a common descriptor in media and scholarship for identifying actions associated with U.S. leadership and coordination. See also international coalitions and United States foreign policy.