Rome worried about growing wealth of Carthage and wanted to force Carthage to a war in way that would be supported by all rich people of Rome - to gather enough funds without a political backlash. So, Rome want a pretext, a justification for the war. In Carthage sphere of influence there was a city-state - Saguntum. Rome intervened in internal politics of Saguntum and supported a puppet-government loyal to Rome - basically staged a coup. Then Rome declared itself a protector of Saguntum. Then Saguntum, which should be friendly to Carthage for its own survival, under the puppet government started acting hostile and provoking against Carthage. In the end Saguntum even sent an excursion into Carthage territory pretending to chase down some outlaws (terrorists? lol). Finally Carthage snapped and besieged Saguntum. When Carthage took over Saguntum all people in Saguntum were killed. Including the puppet government and all their children. The Second Punic War begun. Rome won it. And destroyed Carthage. But while Carthage was defeated and destroyed it didn't bring back to life all the foolish Saguntum simps of Rome. I wonder if Finland, Latvia, and Estonia know about Punic wars and the fate of Saguntum. And if they do why do they want to fall to the same fate themselves? Are they stupid?