U.S. Turns Digital and Military Dominance into a Geopolitical Lever

The global Internet’s architecture—cloud services, semiconductors, undersea cables and major platforms—has long been anchored in the United States. Historically, Washington exercised this “hidden sovereignty” with restraint, but the Trump administration has made the link explicit. Big-Tech CEOs, including the leaders of Apple, Tesla and Nvidia, joined the president’s Beijing delegation, signaling that American tech assets are now a formal element of foreign policy.

The Open Internet Was Always American. Now It's a Weapon.

Artificial intelligence is now framed as a “strategic domain” requiring U.S. “technological dominance.” Export controls on advanced chips have tightened, and officials are weighing tighter monitoring of where American semiconductors are deployed. Simultaneously, diplomats are instructed to contest foreign data-localization rules that could curb U.S. market access, marking a pivot from defending openness to defending an American-centered digital order.

The Open Internet Was Always American. Now It's a Weapon.

Operation Epic Fury’s intensive use of Tomahawk missiles (over 1,000 launched) and Patriot interceptors (1,060-1,430 rounds) has depleted U.S. stockpiles, with analysts projecting full replenishment only by 2029-2031. Consequently, allies—including Japan, the United Kingdom, Poland, Norway, Estonia, Lithuania and Switzerland—have been warned of possible delays in Foreign Military Sales. The State Department offered only a generic refusal to comment on individual cases.

Breaking Defense

CSIS missile-defense expert Tom Karako warned of “inevitable tension” between the push for allies to buy American weapons and the need to restock U.S. inventories. Stimson Center fellow Elias Yousif and IISS senior fellow Michael Carpenter both argue that a waning perception of U.S. reliability could drive partners toward alternative suppliers.

Breaking Defense

President Trump asserted that “they’ve already agreed they’re not going to have a nuclear weapon.” White House deputy spokeswoman Anna Kelly said Iran’s nuclear facilities were “obliterated during Operation Midnight Hammer.” The State Department’s response to FMS inquiries was, “As a general matter, we don’t comment on the specifics of potential or pending arms transfers.” Officials stress that export-control policies protect national security rather than punish allies.

TND - The National Desk

• “What we’re going to see is the inevitable tension between the administration’s stated desire to have our allies buy American and buy more … and likewise the need to put ourselves first to replenish stockpiles,” — Tom Karako, CSIS

Breaking Defense

• “The situation is better now than it was a year ago—this is one of the clear differences,” — Rob Lee, FPRI

Foreign Policy

• “Iran’s nuclear facilities were obliterated during Operation Midnight Hammer, and the conventional shield intended to protect their nuclear program – comprised of their ballistic missiles, production facilities, and navy – is gone,” — Anna Kelly, White House deputy spokeswoman

TND - The National Desk

• “They've already agreed they're not going to have a nuclear weapon.” — Donald Trump, interview

CNBC

CSIS projects Patriot replenishment by 2029-2031, yet U.S. officials provide no firm timeline. Critics view the recent War Powers Resolution as a strategic signal to Iran, but its operational impact remains unclear.

Breaking Defense

The administration is expected to refine FMS prioritization, expand AI export controls, and continue diplomatic talks with Iran while allies weigh diversification of procurement.

Breaking Defense