Outside of international collaboration between states, the Pillars also have to manage and navigate their own internal frictions and affairs. Let us take a look at the handful of discourses plaguing the Pillars domestically:
If the Pillars were to continue their cooperation and enhance peace and security not just at home, but around the world, they would need to resolve, or at least persuade, their own citizens about the need for such prioritization of partnership and cooperation with other Pillars. A major example of one such flashpoint would be the buyout of US Steel by Nippon Steel, which would be mutually beneficial for the Pillars, but is being opposed domestically within the US due to concerns by a certain voter base. The stalling of the deal to placate a voter base is hampering long-term effectiveness and capacity for both Pillars. Thus, it would be in the Pillars best interest to resolve these roadblocks to continue improving relations and help enhance security of the rules-based order.
Minh Nguyen is the Chief Editor of the Boston Global Forum and a Shinzo Abe Initiative Fellow. She writes the Four Pillars column in the BGF Weekly newsletter.
BGF CEO Nguyen Anh Tuan to Highlight Nha Trang Spark on Vietnam National Day 2024
On Vietnam National Day, September 2, 2024, at 4:00 pm Vietnam time, Boston Global Forum (BGF) CEO Nguyen Anh Tuan and Mark Kennedy, Director of the Wilson Center’s Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition and a member of BGF’s Board of Thinkers, spoke a special talk show on KTV titled “Meet and Discuss with Nguyen Anh Tuan about Nha Trang Khanh Hoa Spark.”
During this special event, Nguyen Anh Tuan and Mark Kennedy discussed the strategic importance of connecting and engaging Nha Trang Khanh Hoa with Boston, Massachusetts. The discussion focuses on the shared goal of transforming Nha Trang Khanh Hoa into a global center of excellence in the Age of AI and the AI World Society (AIWS).
Nguyen Anh Tuan shared insights into the ongoing efforts to establish Nha Trang Khanh Hoa as a pivotal hub for technological innovation, digital economy, and AI-driven advancements. The dialogue explored the collaboration between Vietnam and the United States in areas such as AI, smart city development, and digital economy, tourism, with Nha Trang Khanh Hoa serving as a model for regional growth and global engagement.
Mark Kennedy offered his perspectives on the strategic significance of fostering such international connections, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. The talk show highlighted the potential for Nha Trang Khanh Hoa to emerge as a key player in the global AI economy, attracting thought leaders, businesses, and innovators from around the world.
This event marks a significant step forward in the Indo-Pacific Spark Initiative, which seeks to build a strong economic and cultural bridge between the Indo-Pacific and the United States, with a focus on sustainable growth, innovation, and global security.
Referred to as one of Southeast Asia’s ‘Tiger Cub’ economies for its export-driven growth model similar to the ‘Asian Tigers’ Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan, Vietnam continues to experience strong economic growth. This is largely driven by the government’s efforts to pursue international economic integration and implement pro-market reforms. In addition, Vietnam’s relatively cheap labor costs have enabled it to become an attractive investment destination for manufacturing.
Due to the current geopolitical environment, the country is positioning itself as an alternative for companies seeking to diversify their supply chains away from China. An important aspect of Vietnam’s foreign policy is its Three Nos: no military alliances, no siding with one country against another, and no foreign military bases on its soil. Rather than picking sides, Vietnam seeks to balance itself and forge strong relations with numerous other countries. Vietnam has formally designated seven countries as its ‘comprehensive strategic partners’: Australia, China, India, Japan, Russia, South Korea, and the United States.
As a result of its reforms, many countries now consider Vietnam to be a market economy which has helped to strengthen its global trade ties, though the US Department of Commerce recently decided to extend its current non-market status designation. The US hopes that Vietnam will continue its reforms so that it can grant non-market status. The Vietnamese government continues to enact policies designed to attract and retain more foreign investment by investing in education, pursuing free trade agreements, and improving infrastructure towards the goal of spurring further growth.
A close review of investments and trade flows show strong economic vitality and highlights two opportunities. First, there is an opportunity for greater US investment in Vietnam as its investment in Vietnam lags strategic partners and competitors alike. Second, that the robust trade between the US and Vietnam is imbalanced with significant Vietnamese exports to the US but scant imports from the US to Vietnam. Balancing this trade could be an opportunity to unlock greater US investment.
With the election of Trump in November 2016, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, 2015 World Leader for Peace and Security Award Recipient, proactively engaged with his administration to help contribute to shaping its decisions rather than being shaped by them.
At the diplomatic level, Japan has an advantage in its relationships within the Indo-Pacific. According to a survey on Southeast Asia by a leading research institute, Japan remains one of the most trusted partners of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Additionally, India-Japan relations continue to deepen along a path charted by Abe.
Mark Kennedy, Director of the Wilson Center’s Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition and a member of Boston Global Forum’s Board of Thinkers, will visit Vietnam from August 31 to September 7, 2024. The purpose of the visit is to gain deep insights into Vietnam’s current potential and capabilities, with the aim of designing a strategic plan to propel Vietnam’s economy forward. Kennedy’s focus will be on identifying opportunities for rapid economic growth and aligning Vietnam’s trajectory with global trends. During his visit, he will meet with top business leaders, government officials, and deliver a keynote at the Indo-Pacific Spark Club in Hanoi. Nguyen Anh Tuan, CEO of Boston Global Forum, will accompany him on this significant trip.
For more information on Mark Kennedy, visit Wilson Center’s profile. Learn more about the Indo-Pacific Spark Initiative here.
Mark Kennedy was a guest speaker at KTV Talk Show on Vietnam National Day, Sep 2, 2024
While Ukraine fights on and continues making small gains in its incursion into Kursk Oblast against Russia, this offensive has revealed many topics of interests for the Four Pillars:
This incursion demonstrates that Russian red lines and fear-mongering of escalation continues to be proven false. Deterrence is essential to managing escalation with not just Russia, but China as well. This incursion has also made it more likely for peace to happen, as it should incentivize Russia to sue for peace (however, Russia is not a normal rational actor). It gives Ukraine a bargaining chip at the negotiating table, and to demonstrate to the Pillars about their willingness to fight on. Furthermore, Russia cannot be beaten back just on the battlefield, but also in the more invisible theaters of war – information warfare and sabotage warfare. The Pillars outside of the US, notably EU and India, have a role to play and own interests in dealing with these issues. And thus, it is important that the Pillars collaborate with each other in finding real lasting solutions to the Russia issues.
Additionally, some interesting pieces from other theaters of the world:
Minh Nguyen is the Chief Editor of the Boston Global Forum and a Shinzo Abe Initiative Fellow. She writes the Four Pillars column in the BGF Weekly newsletter.
After a successful debut in 2023, Power Of Women (POW) has partnered with G20 Social, W20, and Civil 20 in 2024 to broaden social participation in the G20 forum, with an eye on the role of women and their allies. This year, the 2nd Digital Power Of Women (DPOW) Conference, hosted November 17-18, invites women and girls globally to advocate for public policies in G20 states, focusing on areas such as environmental protection, peace, conflict resolution, digital space, technology access, economic development, and entrepreneurship. DPOW 2024 will emphasize the critical role of female leadership in building a just world and a sustainable planet.
Prominent Women Leaders at BGF include World Leader for Peace and Security Award recipients: Spiritual Leader Amma, Commissioner Ursula von der Leyen, President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, and World Leader in AIWS Award Recipients: Professor Alondra Nelson and Minister Sanae Takaichi. They have played significant roles in fostering a better world and developing AI World Society.
In this partnership, both sides bring their own networks and orbits to mutually benefit both organizations in visibility and impact. BGF contributes its intellectual resources, human capital, and a special report to the partnership. POW brings its knowledge base, and shares its strategic vision in building toward future G20 summits for long-term collaboration.
This collaboration aims to expand the influence of women in global decision-making, particularly in the Age of AI, and support initiatives that align with the values of the AI World Society.
On Friday August 23rd, Boston Global Forum Chairman Michael Dukakis joined the EY Better Innovation Podcast to reflect on his distinguished career and his enduring commitment to innovation. Better Innovation, now in its 7th season, is hosted by Jeffrey Saviano, Boston Global Forum Executive Board member and AIWS Ethics Leader.
During the interview, Governor Dukakis shared his vision behind the Massachusetts Miracle, a transformative period in the 1980s that positioned Massachusetts as a thriving hub for technology and economic growth. Under his leadership, Massachusetts emerged from economic challenges to become a powerhouse in the computer, defense, and biotechnology industries. His administration’s forward-thinking policies fostered an environment where high-tech companies could flourish, creating jobs and setting a model of success for other states to follow.
Governor Dukakis also highlighted his unwavering advocacy for public transportation, which led to the expansion of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA). His efforts included the development of new subway lines and significant improvements to existing services, greatly enhancing public transit in the Boston area. Despite the fiscal challenges posed by Proposition 2 ½, which severely limited state revenue, his administration achieved numerous successes in maintaining and improving essential public services.
With the U.S. presidential election just 73 days away, Governor Dukakis reflected on his 1988 presidential campaign, offering insightful advice to Vice President Harris, drawing from his own experiences – from one presidential candidate to another!
The podcast concluded with a discussion about Governor Dukakis’s ongoing contributions to public policy as a professor at Northeastern University and as Chair of the Boston Global Forum, where he continues to influence the discourse on key global issues.
This episode was a remarkable opportunity to glean valuable lessons from the Governor’s exemplary public service career. A special thank you to Jeffrey Saviano for hosting such an engaging conversation with Governor Dukakis.
This is an excerpt of the article originally published in the AP.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made his first visit Thursday to the border area where his forces launched their surprise offensive into Russia, saying that Kyiv’s military had taken control of another Russian village and captured more prisoners of war.
While in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region, Zelenskyy said the new POWs from the Russian region of Kursk would help build an “exchange fund” to swap for captured Ukrainians.
“Another settlement in the Kursk region is now under Ukrainian control, and we have replenished the exchange fund,” Zelenskyy wrote on the social media platform X after hearing a report from his country’s top military commander, Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi.
Zelenskyy did not name the newly captured village and did not cross over into Russia, which would been regarded by Moscow as a provocation. He previously has said that Ukraine has no plans to occupy the area long term but wants to create a buffer zone to prevent further attacks from that area into Ukraine.
Zelenskyy said the Kursk operation launched Aug. 6 has reduced Russian shelling and civilian casualties in the Sumy region.
