**Introduction** National security is increasingly being used as a tool of economic statecraft. Governments now use trade, investment, industrial policy, technology controls, and supply chain measures not only to address security concerns, but also to strengthen industrial competitiveness, secure technological leadership, reduce strategic dependence, and expand geopolitical influence. As a result, economic policy and national security policy have become more closely intertwined. **Contextual background** Economic statecraft refers to the use of economic instruments — such as tariffs, export controls, sanctions, investment restrictions, and industrial policy — to achieve strategic or geopolitical objectives. Since the late 2010s, rising geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, technological competition, and concerns over economic resilience have expanded the role of national security in economic policymaking. This shift is particularly visible in sectors considered strategically important, including semiconductors, critical minerals, clean energy technologies, telecommunications, and advanced manufacturing. Governments increasingly argue that dependence on foreign suppliers in these sectors creates vulnerabilities that can threaten national security during periods of geopolitical conflict or economic disruption[1][2]. **How national security becomes a tool for economic statecraft** **1.** **National security now justifies a broader range of economic interventions** National security arguments are increasingly used to justify policies that would previously have been treated mainly as economic or industrial measures. Export controls, investment screening, tariffs, local content requirements, and industrial subsidies are now frequently framed as tools to secure technological leadership, supply chain resilience, and strategic autonomy rather than simply economic competitiveness[1]. This reflects a broader shift away from the assumption that efficiency and openness alone should govern trade relations. Governments increasingly prioritize resilience, redundancy, and domestic production capacity in strategic sectors, even when these policies increase costs or reduce market efficiency[2]. **2.** **Strategic industries are increasingly tied to geopolitical competition** Competition over advanced technologies has made economic policy more closely tied to national security. Semiconductors, artificial intelligence, telecommunications infrastructure, batteries, and critical minerals are now treated as strategic assets linked to military capability, digital sovereignty, and geopolitical influence[3][4]. As a result, governments increasingly use economic policy to shape technology ecosystems and limit strategic dependencies. Export restrictions on advanced technologies, tighter foreign investment reviews, and subsidies for domestic production illustrate how national security concerns are reshaping global trade and investment patterns[1][3]. **3.** **Supply chain resilience has become central to economic security** The COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical tensions, and disruptions to energy and commodity markets exposed vulnerabilities created by highly concentrated global supply chains. In response, governments increasingly treat supply chain resilience as a national security priority. Policies such as friend-shoring, reshoring, strategic stockpiling, and supplier diversification are intended to reduce exposure to geopolitical risk and economic coercion[2][4]. These measures often redirect trade and investment toward politically aligned economies, reinforcing the strategic dimension of international economic relations. **Conclusion** National security has become a major driver of economic statecraft. Governments now use economic policy not only to promote growth and competitiveness, but also to secure technological leadership, strengthen resilience, manage strategic dependencies, and advance geopolitical objectives. While these policies may reduce certain vulnerabilities, they also contribute to higher trade barriers, supply chain fragmentation, and growing strain on the multilateral trading system. The result is a global economy in which security considerations play a much larger role in trade, investment, and industrial policy decisions.
