Economic Statecraft

The article highlights the United States' struggle to develop a trained workforce for economic security challenges, such as competition over supply chains, chips, and sanctions. It is part of a series by the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies and War on the Rocks examining economic statecraft integration into national security.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent outlined an 'economic statecraft' doctrine, asserting the US will set different economic rules for itself and others, while justifying its global economic dominance through the dollar's reserve currency status. The speech was criticized for promoting double standards, outsourcing, and undermining globalization.

This article is part of an 11-part series examining U.S. economic statecraft integration into national security strategy. It uses a 2010 incident where China halted rare earth mineral exports to Japan following a maritime collision as a case study in how economic measures can be wielded as geopolitical tools affecting global supply chains.

Americans lost nearly $21 billion to cybercrime in 2025, marking a record for cyber-enabled economic losses. Private sector losses from malicious cyber activity regularly exceed $200 billion annually, with both criminal groups and state-sponsored hackers increasingly targeting U.S. economic interests. The article examines how cybersecurity relates to broader economic statecraft and national security strategy.

This article examines how the United States should integrate economic statecraft into national security strategy and military planning. The piece argues that future conflicts may be decided by supply chain control and economic tools like export controls and sanctions before military engagement occurs. It is part of an 11-part series by the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies and War on the Rocks.