The USA takes ages to restore calm (7)
I believe the answer is:
assuage
'calm' is the definition.
(I know that assuage is a more specific form of the action calm)
'the usa takes ages to restore' is the wordplay.
'takes' says to put letters next to each other.
'to restore' is an anagram indicator (I've seen 'restored' mean this).
'usa'+'ages'='usaages'
'usaages' is an anagram of 'ASSUAGE'.
(Other definitions for assuage that I've seen before include "Mollify" , "Soothe with sausage" , "Soften, pacify" , "Appease, calm" , "Make less severe, say thirst" .)