The March Lookout: Local, regional and global upheaval
Kia ora koutou,
Welcome to the March edition of The Lookout.
The world looks rather different than it did a few weeks ago. The conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran has brought trade, alliances and economic resilience into sharp focus - a reminder that geopolitical fault lines can shift quickly and, at times, rupture with global consequences.
For New Zealand, the implications are immediate and the questions are pointed. How exposed are our supply chains? How aligned are business and government in their thinking? And what kind of leadership does this moment require? These are not hypothetical questions. They sit at the heart of our work this year.
This month we introduce the new architecture of our Global Affairs Programme - New Zealand's Place in the World: Trade, Security and Resilience to 2050. Through sector roundtables, regional dialogues and the Aspen NZ Security Forum, the programme brings together leaders from business, government and our international partners to examine these challenges with the seriousness they deserve.
This edition examines how these dynamics are playing out in practice:
Global Affairs: Geopolitics is back. Economics is paying attention.
Critical Conversations: Migration in An Age of Movement
Upcoming Events: Aspen NZ Security Dialogue: Wellington
Next month we bring our Security Dialogue to Wellington - a private roundtable for senior leaders to discuss choices and trade-offs ahead, and the shared responsibility to safeguard New Zealand's long-term prosperity.
There is no shortage of things to think carefully about. This edition is a start.
Ngā mihi - Christine and the Aspen Institute NZ team