Investing in Infrastructure Bolsters a More Stable, Free and Open World

The Wilson Center’s Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition, or WISC, launched a working group (below) to explore how America can be a catalyst for greater private investment that supports international development and climate action to ensure global stability, but also leads to a free and open environment for individuals and countries alike. This led to a focus on ensuring trusted and secure communications, free and open maritime transportation systems, and open access to critical minerals. 

Even with the creation of the US International Development Finance Corporation, or DFC, the US needs to prioritize international infrastructure investment. The US provides significantly less financing for international infrastructure (adjusted for economic scale) than development finance institutions from Europe and Japan. It greatly trails the level of support provided by China. The working group offers the following recommendations to bolster global opportunities and the rule of law, while expanding American exports and influence.

The involvement in the working group does not constitute each participant endorsing each recommendation listed, nor the contents of this publication. Their input was invaluable in providing insights from those with intimate knowledge of international infrastructure. The Wahba Institute of the Wilson Center is grateful for their contributions.

Moderator: Hon. Mark Kennedy – Wilson Center, Director of the Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition; Member of Congress (MN 2001-07)

Flaronica Allen – Executive Assistant, Office of the CEO, Wilson Center

Alex Botting – Venable, Senior Director of International Cybersecurity Services; Wilson Center Global Fellow 

US Navy Vice Admiral (retired) Mike Franken – Center for Naval Analyses

Benjamin Gedan – Wilson Center, Director of the Latin America Program

Bella Grabowski – Intelsat, Government Affairs Manager 

Suhail Khan – Microsoft, Director of External Affairs

Marie Lam-Frendo – Global Infrastructure Hub, CEO

Seth Levey – Glencore, Head of US Government Relations

Rory Linehan – Global Infrastructure Hub, Director of Engagement

Lucas Myers – Wilson Center, Senior Associate for the Southeast Asia, Asia Program

Leila Ndiaye – Cybastion, Senior Vice President, Business Strategy and Government Affairs 

Tom Plofchan – Pangiam, Chief Investment Officer; former Intelligence Counselor to the Secretary, Department of Homeland Security

Bruna Santos – Wilson Center, Director of the Brazil Institute 

Pierce Scranton – Wilson Center, Steering Committee Member of the Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition 

Ambassador (retired) John Simon – Former US ambassador to the African Union and executive vice president of the US Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC); Founding Partner of Total Impact Capital

The Wilson Center acknowledges the participation by representatives from the Departments of Commerce, Defense and State who shared their insights with the working group, though their participation should not be viewed as an endorsement of the working group’s findings.