Tag: supply chains

Economic Statecraft: When Trade Becomes a Weapon

Economic weapons offer compelling advantages over traditional military force, particularly among nuclear-armed powers where direct conflict risks catastrophic escalation. They provide plausible deniability, operate below thresholds that might trigger military responses, and leverage the complex interdependencies created by globalization. Yet they also generate unexpected consequences, from supply chain fragmentation to the acceleration of technological decoupling between major powers. Understanding how economic statecraft works—its tools, effectiveness, and limitations—has become essential for navigating contemporary geopolitics.