In the complex landscape of global commerce, the proposed acquisition of the U.S. Steel by Nippon Steel has become a sign of broader geopolitical tensions. Stephen Heifetz from Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati dives into what was once a straightforward international business transaction that has now transformed into a high-stakes political chess match, revealing the increasingly fluid boundaries between economic opportunity and national security. At its core, this controversy illuminates how national security has evolved from a clearly defined concept to a politically malleable instrument used for personal gain.