Strategic Competition > Geoeconomic Statecraft
Geoeconomic Statecraft
Securing Strategic Advantage Beyond the Battlefield
“In today's world, those who shape supply chains, standards, and innovation ecosystems shape the future.”
Kennedy visiting the Port of Singapore.
Strategic Framework
- Geoeconomic statecraft defines the method — using economic, technological, and institutional tools to project influence through systems.
Defining Geoeconomic Statecraft
- In today's global landscape, competition is shaped as much by economic systems, technology leadership, and institutional frameworks as by military strength.
Geoeconomic statecraft is the deliberate use of economic, technological, and institutional tools to align others with a national vision — shaping the systems, markets, and norms that define global power.
- Rather than relying solely on arms, nations must master the art of shaping supply chains, standards, and innovation ecosystems to secure enduring advantage.
Applying the STEAD Framework: Integration, Not Silos
To avoid stovepiped, fragmented approaches across economic, technological, and diplomatic fronts, WISC applies the STEAD Framework:
STEAD Framework: Integrating Security, Technology, Economics, Alliances, and Diplomacy efforts to align non-military tools toward strategic goals and lasting advantage.
- STEAD Pillar > Strategic Actions
- Security > Secure critical domains (semiconductors, telecom, AI, defense base, energy, maritime, space) vital to resilience and deterrence.
- Technology > Shape global standards for emerging technologies rooted in democratic values.
- Economics > Build trusted supply chains, finance strategic infrastructure, and align industrial policy to secure advantage.
- Alliances > Modernize partnerships and forge new coalitions for economic and technological resilience.
- Diplomacy > Expand strategic engagement with emerging partners to sustain an open, rules-based order.
- By coordinating across these pillars, WISC ensures cohesive strategic action — avoiding fragmentation and maximizing influence.
Strategic Breadth, Long-Term Focus, and Direct Engagement
- Broad View. WISC deliberately integrates efforts across sectors, regions, and domains — avoiding narrow stovepiped approaches.
- Long View. WISC evaluates not only immediate effects but second- and third-order consequences to ensure enduring strategic advantage.
- Roundtables Add to Breadth. This breadth and foresight are strengthened through regular private and public roundtables incorporating perspectives from members of Congress, U.S. government agencies, academia, civil society, and private industry — as well as collaborations with international think tanks.
- Strategic Evaluation. Every action WISC proposes is assessed against three primary criteria:
- Will it deter great power aggression?
- Will it advance the peace and prosperity of Americans?
- Will it advance the peace and prosperity of the world?
Geoeconomic Statecraft Tools
Through the STEAD Framework, WISC applies a full suite of tools to shape the global competitive landscape:
- Setting global rules aligned with democratic values in AI, telecom, and digital governance.
- Providing trusted infrastructure and investment alternatives to authoritarian models.
- Structuring trade frameworks and industrial strategies to secure strategic economic networks.
- Applying export controls, investment screening, and sanctions to constrain authoritarian capabilities.
- Supporting research, startups, venture capital, and talent to drive technological leadership.
- Updating alliances for technological, economic, and security competition.
- Building long-term trusted partnerships through high-standard infrastructure, digital development, health, and human capital investment.
- Deepening ties with new partners to sustain an open, rules-based international order.
Together, these tools strengthen America's economic resilience, technological leadership, and strategic influence.
Closing Principle
In the competition of systems, those who shape economies, technologies, and alliances will shape the future.