[Music]
[Applause]
this past fall I was given the
remarkable opportunity to work with the
US Department of State as a political
and economic intern at the US Consulate
General in Frankfurt Germany in my time
there I was given the chance to work
learn and collaborate with some of the
smartest most experienced and passionate
people this nation has to offer from
every background and walk of life these
American diplomats and service members
put forth a relentless effort every day
in the forwarding of American ideals and
interests as a witness in grateful
participant in this process seeing
everyday the value of national service
it inspired me to ask a question what
would the world of the near future look
like and how would the United States
interact with that world and there lies
the basis for my talk today I titled
this talk envisioning the future of
America's international engagement
before describing exactly what that
vision is I think it's first important
to explain the area in which we're
exploring so what is international
engagement this is how we as a nation
interact with the rest of the world it's
not an inherently political
concentration although it can be heavily
influenced by political decision making
it encompasses the concepts of business
and Commerce the movement of culture and
people and most importantly the
development and spread of ideas as with
any problem-solving or decision-making
framework I think it's always important
to define and specify goals within the
context of this talk I try to keep my
goal as relatively simple in scope
you have monumental in size at the same
time my goal is to see America continue
in his role of global leadership based
on moral principle and national capacity
my goal is to is to continue
to see America serve as a center for
mutual shared prosperity development and
innovation with the rest of the world to
continue the status and direction of a
Madeleine Albright described as the
indispensable nation like I said super
simple we live in a world that is
increasingly complex and ever-changing
our present moment sees the evolution of
a new international power dynamic
strategic competitors now exist for the
United States the common example given
is China based on its rapid development
and national capacity but also states
such as Russia where would they lack and
economic power they make up for in
boldness in the surgical application of
asymmetric force we live in an
increasingly globalized world defined by
instantaneous connectivity and
integrated commerce we live in a moment
of unmatched technological innovation
climate change remains that near and
present threat we see an increase in the
movement of people the present of
authoritarianism can be seen in increase
in locations around the world and
internal social and rest can be seen in
every corner of the globe from Hong Kong
to Chile France Lebanon Iraq in Iran
turning our scopes the United States
America remains the leading economic and
military power we have active diplomatic
relations with all before nations and
we're one of the world's top innovators
internally we hold the unique distrust
of national institutions and we lack a
common consensus on how the United
States should interact with the rest of
the world
looking ahead along current trends the
future will be no less complex power
competition among stronger rivals will
persist connectivity and economic
integration among nations will persist
and we will increasingly witness the
importance of the global Commons namely
the Seas space and cyberspace
barring any radical new action on the
part of the world's major powers climate
change will continue to significantly
alter our natural world
and authoritarian regimes will continue
to centralize power and limit basic
human liberties this is the world of the
near future some things can be
influenced and others cannot however the
power of our people will be in our
collective response looking back to the
beginning this presentation how do we
achieve the goals laid out previously
how do we retain promote and protect not
only the prosperity of the people united
states but also the people of the world
around us i have some ideas in which we
can do just that it comes through a
process of deliberate and decisive
action institutional openness
cooperation and trust a cohesive embrace
of these key tenants is the vision
altering and empowering the way the
united states interacts with the rest of
the world within a future dynamic
environment but how does this apply in a
practical sense how do we make this
vision a reality the first way is the
promotion and embrace of pragmatic and
values based policy the alignment of
national ideals with national policy the
valley's an idea is that we hold so dear
and that which made the united states
the beacon of hope that it is must serve
as the foundation for the formation and
application of national policy the
result of such an embrace would continue
to prove to the world that America is a
moral leader one that wishes to earnest
see at the head of the table second we
must make trust and transparency a
strategic priority when I was in Germany
I had the opportunity to speak with one
of our nation's leading experts on
Russian influence and disinformation
operations she highlighted the power of
institutional openness combating the
rude opportunities that allow for malign
actors to expand their influence within
democratic societies if we wish to
combat these rude opportunities we must
make institutional transparency of
political and business institutions as
well as national leaders a national
strategic priority
additionally increased trust and
transparency among nations leads me on
our next point we must strive to empower
partners and work to create new ones you
cannot be a leader in a hyper globalised
world without willing partners a
strengthening of multinational
partnerships American diplomacy and
effective aid abroad is crucial to the
sustainment of lasting alliances in the
fostering of new ones and regions and
spaces not done before and finally we
must foster the power of the global
international relations security
political and business communities and
resisting the development of closed
fears of influence protecting the
systems of openness and integration that
allowed for lasting peace and global
prosperity represent a paramount goal
for the for not just the United States
but also the global community as a whole
all these initiatives working in tandem
foster an environment that promotes the
integration of democratic norms
cooperation and openness not catalyzed
by pressure but by willingness to work
with one another if we go down this path
if we strive to make this vision a
reality
where will this get us it may not create
a perfect world but it will create a
better one thank you very much