Treasury's War: Juan Zarate on Economic Statecraft and Technology

Juan Zarate joined the US Treasury just three weeks before September 11, 2001. He helped build the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence (TFI). That work transformed Treasury into a cornerstone of American national security. Zarate later wrote Treasury's War, described as the definitive account of how financial intelligence, sanctions, and economic power became central tools of US statecraft. The post-9/11 financial architecture still underpins US national security. Zarate and Ari discuss how that architecture must evolve. Their discussion covers an era of cryptocurrency, AI, and emerging technologies. The post-9/11 financial architecture must evolve for an era of cryptocurrency, AI, and emerging technologies. The focus is on financial intelligence, sanctions, and economic power as central tools of US statecraft. It also focuses on how cryptocurrency, AI, and emerging technologies fit into that evolution. The post-9/11 framework remains foundational. It also must evolve. Juan Zarate's experience at Treasury and his book frame the discussion. The discussion considers how technology changes the environment for economic statecraft. Financial intelligence and sanctions are central tools of US statecraft.