Investing in Infrastructure Bolsters a More Stable, Free and Open World
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The Wilson Center’s Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition, or WISC, launched a working group (below) to explore how America can be a catalyst for greater private investment that supports international development and climate action to ensure global stability, but also leads to a free and open environment for individuals and countries alike. This led to a focus on ensuring trusted and secure communications, free and open maritime transportation systems, and open access to critical minerals.
Even with the creation of the US International Development Finance Corporation, or DFC, the US needs to prioritize international infrastructure investment. The US provides significantly less financing for international infrastructure (adjusted for economic scale) than development finance institutions from Europe and Japan. It greatly trails the level of support provided by China. The working group offers the following recommendations to bolster global opportunities and the rule of law, while expanding American exports and influence.
The involvement in the working group does not constitute each participant endorsing each recommendation listed, nor the contents of this publication. Their input was invaluable in providing insights from those with intimate knowledge of international infrastructure. The Wahba Institute of the Wilson Center is grateful for their contributions.
Moderator: Hon. Mark Kennedy – Wilson Center, Director of the Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition; Member of Congress (MN 2001-07)
Flaronica Allen – Executive Assistant, Office of the CEO, Wilson Center
Alex Botting – Venable, Senior Director of International Cybersecurity Services; Wilson Center Global Fellow
US Navy Vice Admiral (retired) Mike Franken – Center for Naval Analyses
Benjamin Gedan – Wilson Center, Director of the Latin America Program
Bella Grabowski – Intelsat, Government Affairs Manager
Suhail Khan – Microsoft, Director of External Affairs
Marie Lam-Frendo – Global Infrastructure Hub, CEO
Seth Levey – Glencore, Head of US Government Relations
Rory Linehan – Global Infrastructure Hub, Director of Engagement
Lucas Myers – Wilson Center, Senior Associate for the Southeast Asia, Asia Program
Leila Ndiaye – Cybastion, Senior Vice President, Business Strategy and Government Affairs
Tom Plofchan – Pangiam, Chief Investment Officer; former Intelligence Counselor to the Secretary, Department of Homeland Security
Bruna Santos – Wilson Center, Director of the Brazil Institute
Pierce Scranton – Wilson Center, Steering Committee Member of the Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition
Ambassador (retired) John Simon – Former US ambassador to the African Union and executive vice president of the US Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC); Founding Partner of Total Impact Capital
The Wilson Center acknowledges the participation by representatives from the Departments of Commerce, Defense and State who shared their insights with the working group, though their participation should not be viewed as an endorsement of the working group’s findings.
Contributor
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Mark Kennedy
Hon. Mark Kennedy (US Congress, 2001-07 MN), Director of the Wilson Center’s Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition, also serves as an appointed Civic Leader supporting the Secretary of the Air Force, a Senior Fellow at CNA-Center for Naval Analyses and as President Emeritus of the University of Colorado. Kennedy is dedicated to strengthening America’s alliances, and the technology, trade, infrastructure, and energy foundations of its economic and global leadership. Mark applies experiences as a first-generation college graduate, corporate executive, presidentially appointed member of the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations, founder of the Economic Club of Minnesota and author of an Ivy League published book. He has engaged wide cross-sections of society in over 45 countries, including refugee camps, war zones, 50 military bases and three aircraft carriers at sea.
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