Technology shapes international relations in fundamental ways, yet scholars have often focused on innovation measures when studying the relationship. This paper addresses recent suggestions to emphasize technology diffusion as a means for states to gain technological power. Conceptualizing international standardization as a method to facilitate technology diffusion, the paper investigates two expectations from the literature on how international relations ties to technology diffusion. The paper finds that within the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the creation of standards extends beyond technical concerns and is on multiple levels influenced by geopolitical relations. Consequently, this study highlights the broader political context that shapes international standardization by revealing how standardization can serve as a diffusion tool for technology.