The Evolution of Economic Warfare

The tools of economic warfare have evolved significantly since the post-9/11 era, shifting from military-based interventions to financial strategies. In the past, traditional sanctions required military presence and enforcement, such as the UN sanctions against Iraq in the 1990s, which involved multinational forces patrolling the Persian Gulf. Today, globalization and advancements in legal frameworks allow the U.S. to impose sanctions simply by signing documents, targeting financial systems and supply chains without military intervention. This transformation gives the U.S. a powerful means of exerting influence over countries like Russia and Iran, demonstrating how economic tools can effectively serve national interests in a modern geopolitical landscape.