From a Washington Post column by Robert M. Gates titled “The U.S. needs to relearn how to tell its story to the world”:

Robert M. Gates was defense secretary from 2006 to 2011 and is chairman of the Gates Global Policy Center partnered with William & Mary.

In the long contest ahead with Russia and China, U.S. military power will be of greatest importance, but non-military instruments of power will be essential to our ability to compete and win as well. The most crucial such instrument is economic, the importance of which is widely recognized, as both the executive branch and Congress work to promote strong growth and technological superiority.