FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 11, 2024, Washington, D.C.— The Truman Center, in collaboration with Meridian International Center, the U.S. Department of State, and the Melbourne Centre for Cities, is proud to announce 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. The event will take place on January 15-16, 2025, in Washington, D.C.

Local leaders are on the frontlines of challenges traditionally managed at the national level. These issues—including health crises, migration, climate change, supply chain disruptions, and foreign interference—demand coordinated and strategic international cooperation at every level of government. The Symposium on Strategic Subnational Diplomacy will convene key leaders from the United States and allied nations to develop robust frameworks that counter malicious influence, protect democratic values, and advance economic prosperity within and across borders.

A Global Effort to Strengthen Local Diplomacy and Resilience

The Symposium will welcome delegations from nine countries: Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Each delegation will consist of national and subnational officials, including senior city and regional leaders, fostering an unprecedented exchange of strategies for international engagement and local resilience.

“Local leaders confront new foreign policy and global challenges every day, from the ripple effects of trade disputes, to disinformation and foreign interference, to great power competition,” said Max Bouchet, Director for City and State Diplomacy at the Truman Center. “Convening local representatives from these nine countries will foster subnational cooperation and help equip them to navigate such challenges.”

“The Symposium on Strategic Subnational Diplomacy serves as a starting point to cultivate cooperation and collaboration within and among nations,” said Frank Justice, Vice President of Diplomatic Engagement at Meridian International Center. “By building capacity, sharing best practices, and raising awareness of the geopolitical importance of local leadership, we aim to create a new paradigm of diplomacy that aligns national interests with local needs.”

Addressing Capacity and Equity Gaps in Local Diplomacy

As more cities and regions expand their international efforts, many find themselves constrained by limited resources, expertise, or strategies. This disparity creates uneven opportunities across regions and can increase the risk of exploitation by malign actors.

The Symposium will address these challenges by equipping local leaders with tools, resources, and support to strengthen their global engagement, while protecting their communities from harm.

Event Details

Date: January 15-16, 2025
Location: Washington, D.C.
Attendance Information: Delegates are invited to attend; media representatives should contact Meridian’s Communications team for credentialing by January 6, 2025, at communications@meridian.org.

For more details, please email forums@meridian.org.

About the Truman Center

The Truman Center for National Policy and its sister organization, the Truman National Security Project, operate at the intersection of foreign and domestic policy, regularly breaking down barriers between the two and making the case that U.S. global leadership is essential to security and prosperity at home. Truman has established itself as a leader in the field of subnational diplomacy. In 2023, Truman published the City & State Diplomacy Toolkit, and in 2024, Truman launched a groundbreaking interactive tool mapping ongoing city & state diplomacy in the United States.

About Meridian International Center

Meridian International Center is a nonpartisan, independent center for diplomacy headquartered on a historic campus in Washington, D.C. Established in 1960, Meridian advances American leadership by expanding and opening diplomacy to leverage our nation’s greatest assets—our people, innovation, enterprise, and culture—to build a better shared future. This involves fostering collaboration and dialogue not only among government entities but also with private sector leaders, civil society, and other non-state actors. Our aim is to create a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable global environment.

About State Department Subnational Diplomacy Unit

Led by the Special Representative for City and State Diplomacy, the Subnational Diplomacy Unit oversees and coordinates the State Department’s engagement with mayors, governors and other local officials in the United States and around the world. The Subnational Diplomacy Unit aims to bring the benefits of U.S. foreign policy, such as jobs, investments, innovative solutions, and international experiences, to the local and state level. It supports U.S. national security priorities by integrating local ideas into foreign policy and fostering connections among cities, municipalities, and communities in the United States and abroad.

About the Melbourne Centre for Cities

Melbourne Centre for Cities focuses on urban governance, aiming to amplify urban research with an international perspective. As a unique cross-faculty, multidisciplinary, initiative at the University of Melbourne,  Centre projects focus on collaborative strategies centred around the key themes of urban sustainability, connectivity, leadership, and equity. Through global collaboration, the Centre connects researchers and city leaders to tackle urgent issues affecting both people and the environment, while also addressing inequalities in decision-making.