Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
WILMINGTON, Del. – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) today led the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC) Mid-Atlantic Summit, a multi-panel conference featuring political, business, and community leaders from across the state, nation, and world. The conference discussed how America’s diplomacy and development assistance strengthen U.S. national security and create new opportunities for Delaware businesses. This was the first in-person Mid-Atlantic Summit since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Today’s conference featured speakers from all over our country — from state government to the federal government, from the business sector to the nonprofit sector — on how Delaware is impacted by the world and Delaware’s impact on the world,” said Senator Coons. “We had positive and engaging conversations about ways that we can help grow Delaware’s business exports, from poultry and soybeans to manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and financial services, and how we can help manage our way through the consequences of the pandemic, global climate change, and the threats to our security. I’d like to thank our panelists and moderators for joining us today, and I look forward to continue demonstrating how our state benefits from our nation’s strong links to partners and allies around the globe.”
The summit’s first panel, “Next Steps After the Africa Leaders Summit,” focused on the future of U.S.-Africa relations, the possibility of growing Delaware exports to Africa, and engagement with the African diaspora in Delaware and across the country. Kenyan President William Ruto participated in the panel virtually.
The second panel, “Addressing Threats: Global Health & Climate Change,” brought together leaders from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the private sector, and global health NGOs to discuss how to prepare for future pandemics and other global health threats, as well as the increasing challenges brought about by climate change. It also explored the opportunities that exist for Delaware businesses working in green energy and life sciences.
The final panel, “Meeting the Moment of Rising Global Crises,” featured a free-flowing conversation between Senator Coons, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan (who appeared virtually), and former U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio). The panel touched on U.S.-China relations, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, bipartisan climate solutions, and other global crises.
A recording of the 2023 Mid-Atlantic Regional Summit can be found here.
Additional Mid-Atlantic Summit participants included Bethany Hall-Long (D), Lieutenant Governor of Delaware; Matt Meyer (D), County Executive of New Castle County, Delaware; Mike Purzycki (D), Mayor, City of Wilmington, Delaware; Liz Schrayer, President and CEO, USGLC; Dr. Donna Patterson, Director, African Studies Program, and Chair, Department of History, Political Science, and Philosophy, Delaware State University; Judd Devermont, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for African Affairs, National Security Council; Dr. Atul Gawande, Assistant Administrator for Global Health, USAID; Dr. Kris Vaddi, CEO, Prelude Therapeutics; Teresa Christopher, Head of Climate, Sustainability, and Environmental Policy, Amazon; and Kasie Hunt, Anchor and Chief National Affairs Analyst, CNN.
Senator Coons is the Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations (SFOPS) and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
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