IMAGE: GCIS

In recent years, national security, once primarily concerned with military defence, has
evolved into a geopolitical tool used by powerful nations to justify economic and trade
policies. Traditionally deployed as a safeguard against external military threats, it is now
increasingly invoked to impose trade restrictions, sanctions, and technological decoupling.
As South Africa engages in the year-long discussions of the G20, it has an opportunity to
redefine national security within a multilateral framework that prioritises economic
cooperation over protectionism.

It has become common practice to label outwardly aggressive policies in international relations as
a matter of national security, especially in attempts to dissuade economic competition. Nations
like the U.S., China, and Russia have justified tariffs, export controls, and financial restrictions
under the banner of safeguarding sovereignty, often blurring the line between genuine security
concerns and economic protectionism. This trend has destabilised multilateral trade systems and
erodes trust in institutions like the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The misuse of national security as a geopolitical tactic has significant consequences for global
stability and economic trade. While powerful nations often use it to justify trade wars and
sanctions, the resulting tensions undermine multilateralism. This policy shift is reshaping global
economic dynamics and reinforces existing hierarchies between developed and developing
nations.

South Africa, presiding over the G20, can advocate for a new framework in the age of digital
governance that mitigates the misuse of national security. The challenge lies in balancing the
legitimate security concerns of nations with the need for open and fair trade.

National Security as an Economic Weapon

The strategic use of national security in economic policy has become a dominant feature of
international diplomacy. The U.S.-China trade war exemplifies a recent phenomenon of utilising
the policy of national security as a pretext to protect domestic industries from external competition.
These measures are framed as defensive, yet serve as aggressive tools to curb competition and
maintain economic dominance.

The United States has imposed tariffs and export controls on Chinese goods and technology, citing
national security risks, while China has retaliated with restrictions on critical minerals essential to
global supply chains. Similarly, sanctions imposed by Western nations on Russia, Iran, and North
Korea have been framed as national security measures but also serve geopolitical and economic
interests.

The digital and technological spheres have also been drawn into national security narratives, with
companies like Huawei, TikTok and now recently openAI Deepseek facing bans due to alleged
security concerns. Meanwhile, China’s invocation of national security in the South China Sea and
Taiwan Strait demonstrates how the concept is used to justify territorial claims to assert dominance
in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Global South’s Push for Economic Sovereignty

For nations in the Global South, national security has taken on a different meaning centered around
economic self-sufficiency and resilience. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in
global supply chains, prompting developing countries to localise production and prioritise resource
security. This shift represents a form of economic decolonisation, as Global South nations seek to
break away from historically extractive trade relationships and build independent industries.

However, these efforts are often met with resistance from dominant economies, which view
economic restructuring in emerging markets as a threat to the global status quo. Protectionist
policies from the Global North, such as the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act, which aims to reduce
reliance on Asian semiconductor manufacturing, and recent tariff hikes by the Trump
Administration highlights contradictions between economic security and global trade
liberalisation.

It is perfectly normal, of course, for countries which have over extended themselves, either through
economic trade, financial aid or military bases, to seek to manage their retreat as emerging markets
reorder the geopolitical terrain. However, if left unchecked the invocation of national security may
escalate economic competition to full blown wars.

As economic re-globalisation unfolds, it is crucial to establish a framework that recognises the
right of developing nations to advance their economies without being subjected to punitive
measures disguised as national security concerns. As it is currently deployed, the restrictive policy
of national security may later be used as a tool to contain Africa’s economic advancement as the
continent seeks to claim the 21st century.

South Africa’s Role in Redefining National Security within the G20

South Africa must champion for a clear distinction between economic security and protectionism.
The global community needs a limited national security framework that differentiate between
legitimate security concerns and protectionist measures aimed at stifling competition. South
Africa’s G20 presidency should emphasise dialogue, diplomatic and cooperative solutions over
unilateral economic actions.

Emerging markets have a right to develop independent industries, compete fairly and advance their
economies without facing retaliatory measures. The G20 should shift the focus of national security
from militarisation to competitive advantage while emphasising the importance of economic
security. This approach would create a common ground between developed and developing nations
with the likelihood to reduce trade wars.

South Africa can rally G20 members to establish transparent, evidence-based criteria for invoking
national security in trade. This includes defining thresholds for essential security interests and
multilateral oversight for unilateral measures. By advocating for WTO reform, South Africa can
push to revive the dispute settlement system and create guardrails against arbitrary security claims.

A New Vision for Global Security

The modern evolution of national security, as a central pillar of statecraft, is indicative of a new
global order attempting to reconstitute itself. As economic power shifts and emerging markets
grow, the misuse of national security as a justification for economic containment must be
challenged. South Africa, through its G20 leadership, can help redefine the role of national security
in global trade, ensuring that it serves as a mechanism for stability during this period of geopolitical
reordering.

The future of global trade depends on a reimagined national security framework used as a last
resort and within exigent circumstances, where economic competition is encouraged towards
mutual benefit. South Africa has an opportunity to make a lasting impact on the global stage by
setting a precedent for how national security policies should be used as a mediation strategy ahead
of the U.S G20 presidency in 2026.

As a leading voice in the Global South, South Africa can demonstrate to the Global North that
national security concerns can be ameliorated by aligning industries with differential value where
countries compete and collaborate more effectively. The world is changing and the Global South
can provide leadership and partner with the Global North through this rocky geopolitical transition.

End

Nkateko Joseph Mabasa is a writer, climate advocate and policy analyst.

Mabasa has over seven years of experience in journalism and political strategy. His work has been
featured on prominent platforms like Al Jazeera English, Daily Maverick and Huffington Post,
where he has delivered breaking news articles, in-depth political analysis, and thought-provoking
reflections. Nkateko has played pivotal roles in political campaigns, serving as a speechwriter and
youth organizer for Change Starts Now (CSN) and debate coordinator for Rise Mzansi during
South Africa’s 2024 national elections. With a passion for impactful storytelling and policy reform,
he excels at distilling complex issues into clear, engaging narratives, making him a dynamic voice
in South Africa’s socio-political landscape.