At the crossroads of power: reflections on our discussion with Secretary Mike Pompeo
It was a privilege to moderate a private, invitation-only roundtable with Secretary Mike Pompeo, former U.S. Secretary of State and Director of the CIA, during the AIM Summit in Dubai last week.
Held under Chatham House Rule, our discussion touched on many of the defining geopolitical issues shaping today’s complex world. We explored the evolution of America’s global role, the challenges of balancing leadership and restraint and the shifting dynamics of an increasingly multipolar order.
Our conversation ranged from US-China rivalry and potential flashpoints in Taiwan and the South China Sea to the war in Ukraine, NATO’s resilience and the future relevance of institutions like the UN, IMF and World Bank. Our discussion also turned to the strategic use of economic power through tariffs, sanctions and industrial policy. We explored how this is defining much of the current competition and tensions between nations and, in turn, how this is reshaping global trade and investment flows between the West, Asia and the GCC.
Secretary Pompeo was a key player during President Trump’s first administration and he has retained an important vantage point since. His perspectives on how the United States and the rest of the world may navigate today’s shifting geopolitical realities were highly thought-provoking. It was a great pleasure to moderate such a discussion focussing on the many critical issues shaping today’s global order.
#aimsummit #geopolitics #foreignpolicy #leadership #globaltrade #internationalrelations