Economy February 6, 2026

Treasury Launches Push to Channel More Allied Capital While Preserving Security

Scott Bessent frames an 'America First Investment Policy' effort to grow foreign investment from partners without compromising national security

By Ajmal Hussain
Treasury Launches Push to Channel More Allied Capital While Preserving Security

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent unveiled an initiative designed to encourage greater investment from U.S. allies and partners while retaining existing national security safeguards. As chair of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), Bessent said the move is part of the administration's America First Investment Policy and aims to balance increased capital inflows with protection of national security interests.

Key Points

  • Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a new Treasury initiative to attract more foreign investment from U.S. allies while keeping national security safeguards in place.
  • Bessent, as Chair of CFIUS, said the department is implementing President Trump’s "America First Investment Policy," which explicitly includes efforts to facilitate allied and partner investment.
  • The administration describes the initiative as part of a broader economic strategy to balance increased foreign capital inflows with national security considerations.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a new initiative intended to draw more foreign investment from allied nations while maintaining national security protections.

In remarks outlining the measure, Bessent said, "Under the guidance of POTUS our nation’s thriving economy is attracting strong and stable foreign investment from around the world." He identified the initiative as a component of the administration's stated approach to investment policy.

Speaking in his capacity as Chair of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), Bessent said the Treasury Department is moving forward with President Trump's "America First Investment Policy." According to Bessent, the policy encompasses "a new effort to facilitate greater investment from allies and partners while continuing to ensure that no investment threatens our national security."

The announcement frames the initiative as part of a broader economic strategy by the administration - one that seeks to manage the trade-off between attracting increased foreign capital and safeguarding national security. The statement emphasizes both objectives without providing further operational detail on how those aims will be implemented or measured.


Summary of the policy announcement:

  • The Treasury is promoting a targeted push to increase inward investment from allied countries and partner nations.
  • The effort is being advanced under the banner of the "America First Investment Policy."
  • CFIUS oversight and national security safeguards remain central to the stated approach.

The public remarks highlight the administration's intent to encourage investment flows from abroad while reiterating that national security considerations will continue to guide review and approval processes. Beyond the statements from the Treasury, no additional implementation details, timelines, or sector-specific guidance were provided in the announcement.

This initiative is presented as a policy balance - increasing access to stable foreign capital from allies and partners while maintaining protective measures intended to prevent investments that might threaten national security.

Risks

  • Potential tension between encouraging greater foreign investment and upholding national security safeguards - affecting how investment reviews are conducted and which transactions are permitted.
  • Uncertainty around implementation details and timelines - the announcement did not specify how facilitation for allied investment will be operationalized or which sectors, if any, will be prioritized.
  • Possible market ambiguity while stakeholders await further guidance - investors and businesses may face interim uncertainty about how the policy will change review processes and approvals.

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