Counter threat finance for strategic competition

Abstract

In strategic competition, malign state and non-state actor networks pose significant threats to key national security interests. To understand and combat these networks, counter threat finance, a tool historically used to address narcotics and terrorist financing, can be applied against state actors who use money to gain influence and increase power. Kevin D Stringer, Madison Urban and Andrew Mackay argue for expanding the authority and application of counter threat finance to address state adversaries, and highlight how this is an integral element of a nascent whole-of-nation economic statecraft strategy and an essential step towards gaining the edge in strategic competition.