A U.S. Grand Strategy for the Global Digital Economy

For America to remain the global leader in IT, the U.S. government must formulate a grand strategy grounded in a new doctrine of “digital realpolitik.” The first priority should be advancing U.S. interests by spreading the U.S. digital innovation policy system and constraining digital adversaries, especially China. This will entail working with allies when possible—and pressuring them when necessary. * U.S. IT and digital policy needs to be guided by a grand, overall strategy, focused first and foremost on maintaining U.S. global tech leadership. * The United States faces a risk where much of the world, including the EU, could align against U.S. IT and digital interests, leading to a many-against-one environment, with detrimental consequences. * In efforts to reestablish closer relations with the EU, the United States should not “give away the store” by allowing the EU to go forward with its increasingly aggressive technology mercantilism. * The United States must enlist likeminded nations in a variety of ways to support U.S. interests—and it should not be reluctant to exert pressure to encourage these nations to come along. * The overarching goal of U.S. strategy should be to limit China’s global dominance and manipulation of markets in the IT and digital space.