Development is its own form of hard powerBy Alexander De CrooThis year’s Munich Security Conference brought plenty of talk about geopolitics, spheres of influence, the future of NATO and defense budgets. Understood in these terms, international development is not just a form of “soft power” (exerting influence through persuasion and attraction). It is hard power — and our most effective pre-emptive strike against future threats. Yes, defense spending matters and increased military investment is a legitimate policy response in today’s world. Development is the ultimate expression of hard power, allowing us to prevent crises that we would otherwise need to respond to.

Source: Taipei Times March 01, 2026 17:16 UTC