Weaponization of Interdependence: The New Strategic Logic of the Twenty-First Century
In the international relations of the twenty-first century, economic and technological interdependence is no longer interpreted solely as a guarantee of stability and cooperation, but increasingly as an instrument of power and coercion. The concept of the “weaponization of interdependence” refers to the transformation of economic, financial, and technological ties into strategic levers to be deployed against adversaries or rivals. Whereas globalization was once believed to produce a pacifying effect through the spread of trade and investment, today those very global connections are revealed as vulnerabilities exploitable by state and non-state actors. The ability to restrict access to markets, resources, technologies, or infrastructures allows effective pressure to be applied without resorting directly to military force. This evolution marks a radical change in the logic of power, redefining the boundaries between economy and strategy and compelling states to rethink their posture in a context of mounting systemic competition.