Glocal Guiding: Fostering More Effective Subnational Diplomacy
While national governments have historically dominated the diplomatic landscape, subnational actors are proving they have a seat at the table. With approximately 56% of the world’s populations living in cities, from international trade to climate change, city and state actors are key players on the global stage, challenging traditional nation-centric diplomacy.
As international awareness on subnational diplomacy increases, Meridian International Center hosted “Glocal Guiding: Fostering More Effective Subnational Diplomacy” on January 15th, 2025, to explore the growing power and potential of subnational diplomacy in global affairs.
This program was part of the Symposium on Strategic Subnational Diplomacy – a landmark two-day gathering focused on empowering city, state, and regional leaders to navigate today’s complex global landscape, hosted by Meridian International Center, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State, the Truman Center, and the Melbourne Centre for Cities. The Symposium welcomed delegations from nine countries: Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The program featured The Honorable Stephen Benjamin, Senior Advisor to the President and Director of Public Engagement, The White House; Robbie Gramer, National Security Reporter, Politico; The Honorable Nina Hachigian, U.S. Special Representative for City and State Diplomacy, U.S. Department of State; Natalie Jones, Executive Vice President, Meridian International Center; The Honorable Tim Kelly, Mayor, City of Chattanooga, Tennessee; The Honorable Aruna Miller, Lieutenant Governor, State of Maryland (reception keynote); and Her Excellency Jovita Neliupšienė, Ambassador, Delegation of the European Union to the U.S.
An evening networking reception immediately following the program gave Symposium participants and attendees a chance to network, build new relationships, and discuss actionable outcomes to advance subnational diplomacy at home and abroad.
These Were the Top takeaways from the Program:
1. Global Challenges, Local Solutions
Cities are booming hubs of innovation, economic development, and rapid growth. However, this often means the impact of economic downturns and global challenges is felt most acutely at the city and local level. Ambassador Hachigian put it simply: "[Cities] are getting involved in these issues because they have to be.” In her role as Special Representative for City and State Diplomacy, she fostered coordination between mayors from multiple countries, working together to tackle the Fentanyl crisis at the local-level, bolstering both local and international capacity to address the growing crisis.
Ambassador Neliupšienė highlighted the impact of global issues at the local level, “Whenever we face challenges, the pain will be real in cities, states and municipalities.”
With the impact of global problems often felt most acutely by cities, they are also the drivers of change, spurring innovation and finding solutions to shared challenges. Mayor Tim Kelly emphasized that cities “have a huge leadership role in pushing forward [important issues] in the public’s best interest [to the federal level].” Framing big-picture, widespread issues like responsible artificial intelligence usage in the context of localities helps national and international leaders better tailor their policies to the people.
2. The Role of Investments
The relationship between localities and countries is symbiotic. Countries all over the world are investing not only in their own cities and states, but cities and states across the globe. Countries can learn from the EU’s example. Ambassador Neliupšienė pointed out, “there are only three U.S. states where the EU is not the largest investor.” Local investments matter for international development.
Cities are more than prepared for these investments: U.S. Metro areas and cities like Portland, Oregon are innovating Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) strategies as part of their economic development plans. Localities recognize that improving FDI attraction can make them more resilient to fluctuations in funding. For countries, investing at the local level encourages innovation that can eventually be adopted at the national and international level.
3. City-to-City Diplomacy
Locally based exchange programs foster cultural exchange that enrich connections between countries. Mayor Tim Kelly encouraged cities to embrace international partnerships like Sister City visits, particularly among students who will lead the next generation. Sister Cities are long-term partnerships between two communities in two countries that often pursue cultural exchanges and programs. Ambassador Hachigian said these programs are “what cities decide to make of it,” whether that be connecting diaspora to their homeland or driving trade and economic development.
Reflecting on the COP 40 Summit where numerous U.S. mayors were invited, Mayor Tim Kelly commented that, “You realize that you’ve got more in common with your fellow mayors, whether that’s Johannesburg or Chattanooga, than with [your own] state legislators.” Indeed, Ambassador Hachigian confirmed this when speaking about her time as mayor of Los Angeles, California, where she traveled to Mexico City to learn about their Earthquake early warning system. Upon return, she used what she learned to adopt similar technology in California. Rather than starting from scratch, those at the federal and international level can learn from existing solutions successfully implemented at the state and local level.
4. Navigating Challenges at the Federal Level
Cities can continue to work on addressing important issues even when there may be hurdles at the federal level. For example, in the United States, the speakers emphasized maintaining bipartisanship in subnational diplomacy especially as a new Administration takes office. Fundamentally, global issues impact individuals at all levels ---in her role at the State Department, Ambassador Hachigian answers questions from representatives across political parties and international governments. Furthermore, despite opposing political views in his state, Mayor Tim Kelly stated, “I get zero pushback against our efforts for subnational diplomacy.” Most local officials want to help national security and foreign policy, showcasing the possibilities for cooperation regardless of the changing nature of partisan politics.
5. Keeping Constituents Informed
As local leaders continue to engage at the international level, it is critical to convey to constituents the importance of engaging globally. Mayor Tim Kelly explained how he navigated difficulties illustrating the value of the 2025 Sustainable Development Goals locally. When presenting the goals to his constituents, he focused on their potential to increase efficiency and cut costs at the city-level. Instead of focusing on the abstract, international picture, showcasing the local implications and opportunities of global challenges allows constituents to better understand and engage with the problems and solutions. Ultimately, as Ambassador Hachigian put it, global exchange serves constituents and communities best interests: “It’s skills, it’s jobs, it’s solutions, it’s culture.”
As she ended her tenure as the first Special Representative for City and State Diplomacy, Ambassador Hachigian maintained the importance of subnational diplomacy: "I want it to be normal for mayors and governors in the United States to do international work for the benefit of their constituents."
Project summary
| Glocal Guiding: Fostering More Effective Subnational Diplomacy | January 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Impact Areas: | Foreign Policy |
| Program Areas: | Diplomatic Engagement |
