Which instrument of National Power is used to enforce freedom of navigation and trade embargoes?

The instrument of National Power that is used to enforce freedom of navigation and trade embargoes is economic power. Economic measures are key tools for influencing state behavior and can manifest through sanctions, trade restrictions, or embargoes. When a nation imposes a trade embargo, it seeks to restrict access to certain goods or services in order to exert pressure on another country or entity. This approach can effectively alter behaviors or policies, especially when combined with the threat of military action.

While military actions can also play a role in securing freedom of navigation—such as through naval exercises or the deployment of naval forces to ensure safe passage—they primarily serve as a means of enforcement rather than the mechanism of setting trade policies. Diplomatic efforts may work to create agreements that enhance freedom of navigation but do not directly enact trade embargoes. Informational power is focused on the dissemination of information, which can support economic initiatives but does not directly enforce trade measures. Thus, economic power directly addresses and executes the enforcement of trade embargoes and navigational freedoms, making it the most appropriate choice.