America’s Superpower Isn’t Military Might, It’s Economics | Opinion

For centuries, the United States has been seen as the world's superpower, regardless of whether it was combating Soviet expansion, winning the Cold War or promoting global economic integration afterward. Even now, despite rising national debt, the nation is still perceived as the dominant power. Countries assess their strength in terms of naval vessels, missiles, warheads, and defense spending.

While these are crucial factors, they should not be the sole determinant of a country's might. Real power, as former President Donald Trump recognized, lies in economic strength and the people and system that generate it. This strength is rooted in freedom, particularly the economic liberties that grant individuals control over production and enable innovation, construction, purchasing, selling, investing, and establishing the U.S. market as the desired destination for all.

Experts often overlook this aspect of American power. The nation excels when it leverages the immense power of commercial enterprises to influence global outcomes. Through retaliatory tariffs, economic sanctions, and strategic commercial diplomacy, the U.S. employs these tools to achieve its objectives. As a businessman, Trump grasps this concept more effectively than many contemporary leaders.

Consequently, his foreign policy revolves around transactions rather than lofty principles, a strength rather than a weakness. The global landscape involves competing for supply routes, capital investments, energy supplies, technological footholds, and prestigious events. Business deals, including favorable concessions for the U.S., are as valuable as diplomatic achievements.

Tariff threats serve as bargaining chips, while sanctions weaken adversaries without direct confrontation. Tax cuts entice foreign capital. The upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup exemplified this concept. The U.S. not only hosted soccer matches but also offered the world a taste of American culture, generating billions in regional economic activity, creating thousands of jobs, and generating substantial tax revenue.

This is a form of soft power with a balance sheet. The investments secured by Trump from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates bolster American aviation, energy, infrastructure, and technology sectors. Additionally, a long-term oil deal with Venezuela enhances these strategic reinforcements of America's industrial base. The overall value of these investments is immeasurable.

Investments follow confidence in America's future, strengthening ties with allies and fostering growth that would otherwise be unattainable. Expo 2027 in Belgrade serves as another illustration. The U.S. is utilizing the Specialized Expo to display American ingenuity to an audience of foreign governments, investors, and consumers.

Serbian Finance Minister Sinisa Mali emphasized the event's significance, stating it represents an opportunity for Serbia and the U.S. to enhance cooperation in economic development, innovation, and emerging technologies. Companies like Cisco and Archer Aviation, both headquartered in San Jose, are expected to showcase their innovative solutions during the expo.

This approach to global leadership—creating markets, exporting technologies, and being a world leader in generating shared prosperity—embodies what American global leadership should aspire to become in the 21st century. By contributing to the digital infrastructure of a global exhibition or presenting innovative transportation systems to millions of attendees, American companies project power akin to any naval deployment through customers, partners, and contracts.

The U.S. aims to host the 2035 World Expo in Miami, a hemispheric commercial hub and gateway to Latin America. This location would once again bring the world to America, engaging in a continuous marketplace of ideas, products, architecture, infrastructure, culture, and commerce. Sinisa Mali expressed enthusiasm about this prospect, welcoming the U.S.'s ambition to make Miami the site of the 2035 World Expo and his eagerness to collaborate closely with American partners to develop a compelling candidacy.

This spirit of practical cooperation, particularly with emerging markets in southeastern Europe, where China is already making significant strides, is precisely what U.S. global policy should prioritize. While the U.S. undoubtedly needs a robust military, it is crucial not to equate military capability with national greatness. The country that secures the future will be the one that attracts investment, dominates innovation, cultivates the best companies, and hosts the most consequential events.