Senator McConnell, Business Leaders Make Case for Development and Diplomacy Abroad at USGLC South Summit

Investing in development and diplomacy was the theme of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC)’s South Summit held in Louisville last week, which featured remarks from U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, Kentucky Chamber President and CEO Ashli Watts, and others.

Leader McConnell was introduced for opening remarks at the event titled, “America’s Global Leadership: What’s it Worth to the South?”, where he emphasized the importance of global stability and how it relates to everyday life in Kentucky.

“Here in Kentucky, supply chains are living, breathing proof of American leadership in the world. Rural bourbon producers reach buyers from Madrid to Melbourne,” McConnell said. “Steel mills supply manufacturers of surgical tools, skyscrapers, and spacecraft. And Ford and Toyota rely on imported parts at production plants in Louisville and Georgetown. We often forget that Toyota itself is a Japanese company that has invested billions of dollars into our economy, providing nearly 10,000 jobs in central Kentucky.”

“All of this runs on the premise of a set of rules – rules underpinned by American leadership that guarantee secure and sustained access to global markets and freedom of navigation of strategic sea lanes and trade routes,” McConnell added.

Ashli Watts also commented on how the stakes for U.S. global leadership are higher now more than ever.

“With a growing number of international crises and humanitarian conflicts raging around the world, it’s clear that leading globally matters locally. And that leading locally – as we do in the American South – can have a global impact,” Watts said. “The leaders of our businesses here in Louisville and across the region will tell you that the private sector alone cannot keep us competitive in the growing global marketplace. That is why we need these vital strategic investments in diplomacy and development to help fight corruption, promote rule of law, and open new markets for our goods and services, which is key to our economic prosperity here at home.”

McConnell went on to call for Americans to support investing in defense and diplomacy to maintain America’s position as a leader across the globe.

“If we would like for military force to remain an option of last resort, as I do, then we must invest seriously in our strength today. Now, I know it’s a difficult time to ask for greater spending as Americans carry the burden of inflation. But putting off this investment any longer will expose Americans to an even greater burden, the burden of funding an unwelcome war,” McConnell said.

“The fact remains that it’s a lot cheaper to prevent a war than to be in one. It can be easy to turn inwards, to ignore the responsibilities of leadership that have underpinned our peace, prosperity, and security. To those who criticize greater investment in our defense, I would pose the following question: Which of these interests are you willing to abandon? We can’t afford to wait for another attack before we get serious about defending our interests. We must do what we can today, to keep the peace tomorrow,” McConnell added.

Also speaking on a panel at the event were Lt. Gen. Larry Nicholson, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps for nearly four decades, and Nick D’Andrea, Global Vice President of Public Affairs for UPS, who is based in Louisville. The two further discussed how global threats to U.S. national security grow by the day with our adversaries and competitors, and increasingly we see that those threats are economic.

Gen. Nicholson retired as the Commanding General of III Marine Expeditionary Force, leading 30,000 Marines and Sailors in the Asia-Pacific region. Today, Gen. Nicholson serves as a member of USGLC’s National Security Advisory Council. 

D’Andrea, who also serves as a board member of the Kentucky Chamber, spoke of how UPS has worked with foreign countries to solve supply chain needs during critical times, and how his company is leading growth in Kentucky.

Stay tuned to The Bottom Line for more updates.