It was a great pleasure to chair an exclusive, invitation-only roundtable with Mike Pence, 48th Vice President of the United States, at the AIM Summit in Dubai this week. Our theme was “Leadership in an Era of Geopolitical Fragmentation” and the discussion provided an opportunity to explore many of the most pressing international challenges of our time.
The roundtable was held under Chatham House Rule and we first considered the changing global order and America’s evolving role within it. Topics included US-China relations and Taiwan, the prospects for security in the Middle East and America’s longstanding relationships with the Gulf states. Ukraine and NATO’s role in securing a lasting European peace were also key elements of this wider geopolitical discussion.
Our conversation then turned to the economic choices facing the United States and their implications for international investors. We explored the relationship between free trade and the protection of strategic industries, the challenges posed by public debt and the importance of confidence in long-term economic policy. Technological innovation provided another important dimension including AI governance and opportunities for cooperation between the United States and other countries including the UAE.
Finally, we touched on the lessons of public service and the intense demands of leadership during particularly testing times drawing on his career spanning Congress, the governorship of Indiana and the vice presidency.
It was a most insightful conversation that shed light on many of the great global challenges ahead. The discussion left us all with much to consider as the world navigates the complexities of today’s often highly unsettling landscape.
