Diplomacy and American Foreign Policy in the Trump Era
On 16 February 2017, the Rafael del Pino Foundation organised the Keynote Lecture "Diplomacy and American Foreign Policy in the Trump Era" to be given by Nicholas Burns.
Professor Nicholas Burns is one of the world's most respected voices in the field of international relations, geopolitics and diplomacy. Nicholas Burns is Roy and Barbara Goodman Family Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Relations at the Harvard Kennedy School and director of The Future of Diplomacy programme and the Middle East, India and South Asia programmes at Harvard Kennedy School. He served as a diplomat for 27 years in the US Foreign Service, rising to the position of Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs. He was also Ambassador to Greece and NATO and a member of the National Security Council. Professor Burns is also a member of or advisor to prestigious institutions such as the Trilateral Commission, the Atlantic Council, the Aspen Strategy Group, the Cohen Group, the Chatham House, the American Ditchley Foundation, the Appeal of Conscience Foundation and others. Throughout his extensive and prolific professional career, Nicholas Burns has received honorary doctorates from twelve universities as well as numerous prizes and awards, including the Presidential Distinguished Service Award, the Secretary of State's Distinguished Service Award, the Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service from Johns Hopkins University, the Boston College Alumni Achievement Award and the Jean Mayer Global Citizenship Award from Tufts University".
Summary:
On 16 February 2017, Nicholas Burns gave a lecture, organised by the Rafael del Pino Foundation, entitled "A new power competition in the international system". Burns, who is Roy and Barbara Goodman Family Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Relations at the Harvard Kennedy School, began his speech by warning that 2017 presents one of the most complex external agendas for both the United States and Europe. On the one hand, the West is in crisis due to the rise of populism that has led to job losses as a result of the economic crisis. On the other is climate change, which affects millions of people around the world, an area where we are making small steps forward. The fight against drug and human trafficking, or against cyber espionage and cyber crime are other areas where international cooperation is needed. It is no longer a matter of regional, but of global collaboration. Added to all this is the problem of North Korea and its nuclear power, since it can have a ballistic missile within ten years and attempt nuclear war or blackmail. Europe and the United States are the traditional powers, now joined by the BRICS and MINT, which are being asked to get their act together to tackle climate change. Europe, however, is now in crisis. The Europe that emerged after the Second World War as a collection of democratic nations with social values, generating wealth and well-being, is now threatened by populism. Moreover, it has to face the challenge of Russia, which attacked Georgia and is now attacking Ukraine and should be made to pay for its invasion of Ukraine. The EU project itself is also in question these days. The migrant problem is dividing Europe and weakening the EU. People also want a number of policies devolved to the EU to be renationalised. And then there is the problem of Brexit. But leaving the EU could be a disaster in political, economic and social terms. America has always supported the European Union and Burns expects Trump to continue to do so. In fact, America needs Europe. It is the basis of its power, as are Canada and the Free Trade Agreement. It is worth remembering that this is not 1987, but that we live in a global economy and therefore we cannot reject global trade. If we do, China will take advantage of it. Immigration is also being questioned. In this respect, Burns recalled that the United States is a country of freedom, where all Americans have a history of immigration behind them, even if it is that of their grandparents. People come to the United States because they want to be citizens, not criminals, he said. Burns concluded by saying that we need to return to the world order built in 1945, because it is the best invention in history.
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The Rafael del Pino Foundation is not responsible for any comments, opinions or statements made by third parties. In this respect, the FRP is not obliged to monitor the views expressed by such third parties who participate in its activities and which are expressed as a result of their inalienable right to freedom of expression and under their own responsibility. The contents included in the summary of this conference are the result of the discussions that took place during the conference organised for this purpose at the Foundation and are the sole responsibility of its authors.
