What might surprise you about space diplomacy? 🚀 Meridian’s Frank Justice, Vice President of Open Diplomacy Programs and Director of the Space Diplomacy Initiative, asks Charity Weeden to share an unexpected perspective on the evolving role of diplomacy in space. Hear her take on what makes this rapidly growing field so unique.

Space exploration is more than scientific discovery. It's a tool for global influence. Charity Weeden, former @NASA Associate Administrator, joins Meridian's Frank Justice to discuss the role of space diplomacy in advancing national interests.

Global engagement doesn't begin and end in Washington. From attracting international investment to building cross-border partnerships, mayors, governors, and local leaders play a critical role in strengthening America's economic competitiveness and global relationships. In a new op-ed for The Hill, Ambassador Randi Charno Levine explores why empowering state and local leaders to engage internationally is essential to advancing American interests and creating opportunities for communities across the country. Read the full piece: thehill.com/opinion/internat…

What does space diplomacy mean in an era of expanding global space exploration? Frank Justice, Meridian's Vice President of Open Diplomacy Programs, shares his perspective on the importance of international cooperation and the role of diplomacy in shaping the future of space. #SpaceDiplomacy #OpenDiplomacy

The future of space innovation depends on collaboration across sectors. From government and industry to academia, bringing diverse expertise together can accelerate technological breakthroughs with real-world impact. Frank Justice and Saadia Pekkanen, Founder of SpaceAIMS, discuss how cross-sector partnerships can harness space technology to improve lives here on Earth. #SpaceDiplomacy #SpaceInnovation #MeridianDiplomacy

Global challenges don't stop at national borders, and neither should the solutions. Looking back at #UNGA81, @MarvinJRees shares why collaboration between cities and national governments is essential to addressing shared challenges and building stronger international partnerships. Read more about the conversation: meridian.org/project/how-cit…

Cristiano Ronaldo's next chapter? Diplomacy. ⚽ Few figures have the power to connect people across borders quite like global sports icons. At Meridian's UNGA81 reception, H.E. Francisco António Duarte Lopes, Ambassador of Portugal to the United States, highlighted how sports and cultural influence can create new opportunities for diplomacy beyond traditional channels. Read more: meridian.org/project/how-cit…

Read the Playbook: opendiplomacy.meridian.org/

Five ideas show up in every sector of the Open Diplomacy Playbook — business, cities and states, sports and culture, science and technology. International engagement is diplomatic activity, whether you call it that or not. Sustained relationships beat transactional ones every time. Local presence — hiring, community investment, cultural engagement — builds trust remote engagement can't. Embassies add real value when you use them, but effective actors don't wait for permission to engage globally. And crisis response only works as well as the relationships you built before the crisis started. None of this is sector-specific. It's just what strategic international engagement looks like.

Samuel Cuervo, an IVLP participant from Mexico, talks about the example that the U.S. sets in the world, and what it means to him as he embarks on his program exploring the U.S. system of government. @ECAatState

Art brings people and cultures together. 🌎🎨 @MeridianIntl CEO David Bohigian and @the_IDB President Ilan Goldfajn share a few thoughts on Unseen Threads: The Fabric of Everyday Life in Central America, a new exhibition celebrating the region’s rich cultural heritage and the power of art to connect communities across borders. Learn more: meridian.org/project/meridia… #CulturalDiplomacy #UnseenThreads #CentralAmerica

Read here: meridian.org/news/the-war-of…

What can ballet teach us about diplomacy? 🩰🌎 During the Cold War, the United States and Soviet Union took their rivalry beyond politics and onto the stage, using ballet to shape global perceptions, showcase national identity, and compete for cultural influence. In a new article, Meridian Global Leadership Institute participant Libby Martin explores how ballet became a tool of cultural diplomacy, and how the very exchanges designed to project Soviet influence ultimately created new opportunities for dancers seeking artistic and political freedom.

International exchange is powered by leaders who turn global connections into lasting impact. We’re proud to celebrate Meridian’s Shelbey Keegan, recipient of the @AllianceExchnge’s 2026 McCarry Leadership Award, recognizing emerging leaders who are helping advance international exchange and strengthen global understanding. Shelbey’s leadership and commitment to creating meaningful connections across cultures embody the impact of exchange at its best. She will be honored at the Alliance’s Annual Conference. Join us in congratulating Shelbey on this well-deserved recognition! 🎉 Learn more: alliance-exchange.org/allian…

@SamuelCuervo, a journalist and IVLP participant in a program focused on U.S. state and local government, discusses the vital role of the media in a democracy and its responsibility to communicate information to the public in a trustworthy, accessible, and engaging way.

When asked what he most looks forward to during his IVLP visit to the United States, @SamuelCuervo, a journalist from Mexico, said he hopes to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between state and local governments in the United States and draw lessons that could inform and inspire approaches in his own country. @ECAatState

Read the Playbook: opendiplomacy.meridian.org/

Local leadership has gone global. Trade missions. Foreign investment. International partnerships. American cities and states are building relationships abroad that can deliver tangible results at home. The Open Diplomacy Playbook shows how local leaders can make global engagement part of how their communities grow and compete.

Read the Playbook: opendiplomacy.meridian.org/

Culture can go where traditional diplomacy can’t. A musician on a neighborhood stage. A chef sharing food with a new audience. An athlete competing abroad. An artist creating in a community space. These interactions give people a direct experience of American culture and communities, often beyond the politics that shape perceptions of the United States. The goal isn’t to turn artists, athletes or cultural figures into political messengers. It’s to recognize that showing up, building relationships and engaging authentically can shape how people understand America. The Open Diplomacy Playbook explores how leaders across sports and culture can turn those connections into lasting global relationships.