Foreign policy expert Robert Kaplan unveils implications for America’s strategy in the evolving Eurasian landmass

On March 8, 2018, Meridian’s Rising Leaders Council hosted foreign policy expert and author Robert Kaplan for a conversation on the United States foreign policy strategy amid a dynamically evolving Europe and Asia. Kaplan underscored many themes in his new book The Return of Marco Polo’s World: War, Strategy, and American Interests in the Twenty-first Century. He addressed the new trade, infrastructure and migratory links connecting Europe and Asia into a joint Eurasian landmass, and what this means for an America that, according to Kaplan, has been striving for supremacy in the Western hemisphere while securing against a dominant power in the Eastern hemisphere.

Rising Leaders Council Co-Chair Jonas Parello-Plesner led the fireside chat with Kaplan. The discussion then opened for wider engagement of the gathered group of 50 guests seated among tables. The program concluded in stimulating fashion, with each table reporting back to Kaplan and Parello-Plesner with key takeaways, unresolved dilemmas or percolating questions had among the guests.

The Rising Leaders Council is a dynamic network of mid-career professionals from the foreign diplomatic community, public and private sectors, and diverse disciplines, who support Meridian’s mission to advance global leadership and non-partisan public diplomacy through the exchange of people, ideas and culture.