Core Cities representatives travel to Washington DC to discuss subnational diplomacy

Two of the UK’s Core Cities joined national and regional representatives from around the world in Washington DC to discuss the growing importance and momentum of subnational diplomacy. 

Bristol and Leeds, as well as representatives from Welsh, Scottish and UK Governments joined colleagues from Germany, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Canada, Italy, France and the US at the event held in Washington DC during the last week of the Biden administration. The event was hosted by the Meridian International Center, in partnership with the U.S State Department, the Truman Center, and Melbourne Centre for Cities.

The U.S. Department of State’s Subnational Diplomacy Unit is a model praised internationally for being a ‘front door’ for sub national government to engage with the State Department on US foreign relations. The unit works directly with cities and states to support their international engagement overseas and to represent subnational voices in US foreign policy.

The timing of the gathering – taking place as preparations were made for a change of US administration - was poignant but significant in ensuring that this innovative model of subnational diplomacy could be shared and that there could be a cementing of regional and national partnerships across the nine countries.

The symposium discussed strategies to deal with sensitive and complex subnational diplomacy issues including combatting misinformation and disinformation, identifying risk and interference from foreign states, preserving democratic values and election integrity. Sessions also looked at climate change, sharing strategic approaches to migration, working with international diaspora communities and Foreign Direct Investment. 

There was also the opportunity to share different models of how national governments are working with their cities on international diplomacy issues with the US, France and Germany being countries that had the most dedicated and coordinated resource.

Delegates also discussed effective engagement in multilateral policy such as COP, G7 and G20, where there is an opportunity for cities to engage and show how the ambitious actions they are taking at the local level can support international policy commitments on issues such as climate change. 

In the UK, Core Cities has welcomed Government's commitment to engage with cities and regions on Net Zero by signing up to the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP) and recognising the ambitions and actions of cities in the UK’s National Development Contribution submission under the Paris Agreement.

In a world of national political uncertainty and growing global challenges subnational diplomacy becomes even more important and the strategies and partnerships we developed in Washington will be invaluable to UK Core Cities. 

Shelley was invited to be part of the first Symposium on Strategic Subnational Diplomacy, hosted by the Meridian International Center under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of State and in partnership with the Truman Center, and Melbourne Centre for Cities. Shelley is Head of International Affairs for Bristol City Council and also leads the collective international work for Core Cities UK