At the recent World Economic Forum, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said the world is “in the early years of a new era,” one fraught with challenges, but one that can be shaped for the good of all, if met with vision, united purpose, and optimism.
“This age is one of disruptive change. Some of this has been positive, as countries find new ways of harnessing technology, promoting development, and deepening ties with one another. But some has been negative, as dangerous actors test the limits of our ever-evolving international system,” he said.
In the face of dangerous aggression, like Putin’s attack on Ukraine, National Security Advisor Sullivan emphasized that the United States is “not turning inward:”
“Under President Biden’s leadership, we’re rallying a global response to push back. We’re pursuing intensive and proactive diplomacy to manage our most consequential relationships. We’re investing in the sources of our own national strength and those of our allies and partners. We’re not turning away from the international economic system but adapting it to the challenges of today and tomorrow. And we’re competing vigorously to shape the future of the international system.”
In Ukraine, Putin has been stymied in his quest to subjugate his sovereign neighbor, said Mr. Sullivan. In the Middle East, the United States has rallied an international response to the aggression posed by the Iran-backed Houthis:
“Through a combination of steady deterrence and steadfast diplomacy, we seek to stop the spread of conflict and to create the conditions for de-escalation.”
That includes the Israeli-Hamas conflict, where “long before October 7th, the United States was deeply involved to secure a political horizon for the Palestinian people, with Israel’s security guaranteed as part of that,” said National Security Advisor Sullivan. That work continues.
The United States is also managing its critical relationships, “none more critical” than with China, he noted. “We are seeking to manage that competition responsibly, intensifying diplomacy to reduce the risk of miscalculation.”
“So we’re going to stay the course and look to our partners ... to continue with us, to make clear that violent disruption of the international system will fail; to remain committed to diplomacy, which is even more vital as geopolitical tensions rise,” National Security Advisor Sullivan declared. “It's up to us ... to shape the future for the benefit of our fellow citizens and future generations to come.”
