What is recognized as the longest war in the history of the United States?

The Global War on Terror (GWOT) is recognized as the longest war in the history of the United States, primarily because it encompasses multiple military operations that began in response to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. This conflict includes not just the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but also a broader range of military and non-military actions aimed at combating terrorism around the globe.

The nature of the GWOT is such that it goes beyond traditional warfare, involving various strategies like counter-terrorism operations, intelligence activities, and nation-building efforts. As a result, the GWOT officially continues to evolve and expand, integrating efforts across various regions and shifting in focus over time, making it the most prolonged involvement of the United States in military conflicts compared to previous wars.

In contrast, while the War in Afghanistan and the Iraq War are indeed major military campaigns, they are components of the larger GWOT but not standalone entities that surpass the overall timeframe and impact of the GWOT. Additionally, the Vietnam War, while extensive, does not match the duration and wide-reaching scope of the global operations characterized by the GWOT.