Chodakewitz, President and CEO, Nathan Associates

Reinvigorating Development as a National Security Instrument

Integrating development into national security policy and decision making represents a critical and – to date – underutilized instrument. For numerous reasons, there is a unique opportunity to chart a new course and leverage this essential tool for a multiplicity of reasons and benefits.

The current administration is charting a new course in foreign policy and national security, revitalizing American engagement and international cooperation. One aspect of this new approach that clearly stands out is the refresh of international development as an arm of US foreign policy and its systematic integration into national security decision-making and policy. In the post-COVID world and in light of the twin crises of health and economics, the US has a unique opportunity to reshape its influence, improve its PR, and make sustainable and inclusive improvements to health and economic growth around the world.

A coherent and fully integrated policy will prioritize new resources for diplomacy and development as the most effective and efficient option for national security and will also yield the most powerful results, thereby having a multifaceted impact in terms of assisting people around the world while also enhancing our visibility and elevating our seemingly increased presence and activism.

This approach will pack a dual punch as foreign assistance and foreign policy maximize the impact of each dollar and contribute to national security in very concrete ways. This will be facilitated by a growing number of developmentrelated agencies, such as the Developmental Finance Corporation (DFC), in addition to USAID and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) as well as the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA.) This additional muscle enables more projects with greater participation by the local population than ever before. Particularly beneficial is a renewed commitment by the Biden administration for private sector partnership in development investment is the opportunity to showcase the US private sector and the unique way it can promote sustainable development in fragile regions.

Equally important is that fact that demand exists. There is a desire for US engagement around the world. In Southeast Asia, our economic and security partners look for ways to offset the loss of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Similarly, Africa needs assistance that US diplomacy, international development and private sector partnership can bring to address the outcomes of port governance, economic distress, health, and food insecurity. US international development assistance can offer an alternative to predatory development models. In Myanmar in the aftermath of the coup, US diplomacy and international development can assist that country to move towards enduring democratic values. In Central and Latin America, US engagement, leveraging private sector expertise and capabilities offers the potential to address the root causes of human insecurity, including poverty, criminal violence, and corruption, which drives irregular migration, NGOs and community stakeholders want to see the US reemerge in concrete ways that make a difference for the people and provide some alternative to increasingly assertive China and destabilizing Russia.

A unique opportunity exists to advance core development goals and principles as well as leverage them to protect the security of the American people. The Administration notes that world economic security is national security. The Administration’s emphasis on multilateralism reflects this idea, as does recognizing climate change as a national security issue. These ideas are not new, but their prominent and reinforced articulation in the new security strategy is both important and necessary. CIDC members are well positioned to support these issues. CIDC members look forward to doing their part by working in partnership with the administration to produce demonstrable and quantifiable results in achieving the international development goals of the United States.

Conclusion

The time is now to chart a systematic, integrated approach to harnessing the power offered to the US national security policymaking apparatus by development activities, investment, and policy. The potential synergies are both short and longer term and potentially require a fraction of the resources other defense, military, and homeland security initiatives do. PSC and CIDC members stand ready to support this initiative.

Susan Chodakewitz, President & CEO, Nathan Associates CIDC Vice Chair