Action Items

Here are the actionable tasks, commitments, and decisions requiring follow-up mentioned in the interview:

Book and Publications

• SPEAKER_02: Ensure the book is translated into Chinese.
• SPEAKER_02: Follow up on the publication of a “Foreign Affairs” piece that was published “a little while back.” (This is more of a confirmation of a past action rather than a future task).

Diplomatic Strategy and Practice

• SPEAKER_02: Continue to apply the framework of “values-based realism” in foreign policy.
• SPEAKER_02: Continue to practice “dignified foreign policy” by behaving respectfully towards international partners.
• SPEAKER_02: Continue to engage with the United States, acknowledging the need to deal with the world as it exists, not as one wishes it to exist.
• SPEAKER_02: When disagreeing with the US, decide whether to express these disagreements publicly or privately.
  • SPEAKER_02: To continue to express disagreements privately.
• SPEAKER_02: Continue to cultivate relationships at three levels with the US: direct contact with the President, people close to the President, and with the Senate and Congress.
• SPEAKER_02: Continue to support Ukraine.
• SPEAKER_02: Continue to put pressure on Russia.
• SPEAKER_02: Work towards a peace deal for Ukraine, acknowledging upcoming negotiations.
  • SPEAKER_02: Attend negotiations in the Arab Emirates with Ukrainian, Russian, and American national security advisors/negotiators. due: After Moscow meeting this week

European Union and Integration

• SPEAKER_02: Continue to advocate for and work towards a more flexible and potentially enlarged European Union, using concepts like multi-speed and variable geometry.
• SPEAKER_02: Continue to engage with non-EU countries like the UK, Norway, and Iceland within the broader European framework.
• SPEAKER_02: Continue to explore strategic partnerships and trade agreements for Europe with other global players (e.g., Mercosur, India).

Personal and Professional Development

• SPEAKER_02: Consider how to “pick battles” in foreign policy, distinguishing between where values can be expressed and where direct action can be taken.
• SPEAKER_02: Continue to develop skills in navigating complex diplomatic environments, understanding the interplay between public and private diplomacy.

Specific International Issues

• SPEAKER_02: Address the ongoing conflict in Sudan, acknowledging it as a significant and potentially overlooked crisis.
• SPEAKER_02: Address the ongoing conflict in Myanmar, recognizing it as a forgotten crisis.
• SPEAKER_02: Address the situation in Haiti, recognizing it as a crisis often overshadowed by others.
• SPEAKER_02: Consider the complexities of Venezuela, balancing principles of international law with the legitimacy of leadership.

Long-term Vision

• SPEAKER_02: Continue to believe that the transatlantic partnership will survive despite current challenges.
• SPEAKER_02: Continue to believe that Europe’s moment is arriving and that the EU can cope well with future geopolitical shifts.
• SPEAKER_02: Remain optimistic about the future of Europe due to various converging factors (COVID, Ukraine, energy, US relations).

Future Engagement

• SPEAKER_04: Ensure that Alex Stubb’s ideas on other topics are available through his podcast “The World in 30 Minutes.”