Middle and major powers are using trade, investment and technology as weapons of influence in pursuit of triangular diplomacy, a stratagem of Cold War realpolitik. However, the strengths of this approach – agility, ambiguity and tactical scope – hide the dangers of entanglements that escalate instability.
A nation triangulates by balancing and manoeuvring between two other powers, building leverage, reducing dependency and becoming indispensable to multiple sides without fully committing to…