Meridian Exchanges

What does it take for Africa to shape the future of AI — not just adopt it? 🌍 At Meridian’s AI Horizons: Africa roundtable, Kellee Wicker discussed the role of the diaspora, digital literacy, and why African voices must be central to the future of AI growth. “The diaspora have their feet in both worlds.” Learn more: meridian.org/project/ai-hor… #AI #Africa #ArtificialIntelligence #TechPolicy

Trade missions, royal diplomacy, global conferences, and cultural exchange. Just another week at Meridian: • At the Milken Institute Global Conference 2026, Meridian CEO David Bohigian joined global leaders for conversations on geoeconomics, diplomacy, and the enduring influence of transatlantic exchange 250 years after America’s founding. Learn more: linkedin.com/feed/update/ur… • Meridian Council members, diplomats, and leaders across media, philanthropy, and public affairs gathered for a conversation with bestselling author Susan Page on the enduring role of soft power, protocol, and cultural diplomacy through her new book, The Queen and Her Presidents: The Hidden Hand That Shaped History. Learn more: meridian.org/project/meridi… • Meridian International Center announced the 6th class of Culturefix Awardees, recognizing leaders in art, culture, fashion, archaeology, and sport whose work is advancing international understanding through cultural exchange. Honorees include Reem Acra, Firelei Báez, Zahi Hawass, Jeff Koons, and Ilia Malinin. Learn more: meridian.org/news/meridian-… • As leaders from across the United States and around the world convened for SelectUSA Investment Summit, Meridian’s Center for State and Local Diplomacy released Brief 2.4: How to Develop and Execute Successful International Trade Missions, exploring how cities and states can strengthen partnerships, attract investment, and drive long-term economic growth. Explore the brief: lnkd.in/gTscmsb2 • As an official America250 resource partner, Meridian continues advancing Diplomacy@250 through international partnerships, cultural exchange, and people-to-people engagement that highlight the global dimensions of America’s story ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary. Learn more: meridian.org/culture/celebr…

With one week until Donald Trump’s visit to China, global attention is turning back to one of the most consequential bilateral relationships.  Trade, technology, and security are all on the table. So is the broader question of how the United States and China navigate competition while managing interdependence.  At @MeridianIntl Center, these dynamics shape the conversations we convene across government, business, and diplomacy.  Moments like this do not just define policy. They shape the environment leaders across sectors must operate in.  #OpenDiplomacy #USCHina   PC: Stephen Bobb

Emerging technologies like artificial intelligence are shaping the future of diplomacy. Through discussions with ORF America, #IVLP participants explored recommendations to strengthen joint research, align policy approaches, and expand AI partnerships between the United States and India.

Applications are now open for the Executive Branch cohort of The Meridian Tech Labs. Apply by June 6: events.meridian.org/2026executiveb… Technology is moving fast, and policymakers are expected to keep up. The Tech Labs are designed to close that gap, offering a practical, nonpartisan space for government staff to better understand the technologies shaping today’s policy decisions. Over six weeks, participants engage directly with leading experts to break down complex topics like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies, and what they mean in real-world policy contexts. Join more than 1,500 alumni who have taken part in the program and continue to stay ahead of the curve.

As global attention turns to the NFL Draft and the upcoming FIFA World Cup, competition is playing out far beyond the field. It is unfolding across diplomacy, culture, and influence. Moments like the NFL Draft reflect how sports ecosystems are increasingly interconnected. From scouting international athletes to shaping the identity of host cities, these events carry real diplomatic weight. Athletes, leagues, and host nations are influencing how countries are perceived, how partnerships are built, and how global audiences engage across borders. This is Open Diplomacy in action. Learn more: meridian.org/culture/

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, global influence is increasingly shaped through connection, not just coordination.  Cultural and educational exchanges are building the relationships that sustain long-term partnerships—linking emerging leaders, institutions, and communities across borders. These connections don’t just reflect diplomacy. They carry it forward.  At Meridian, this work is central to how we engage the world. Through exchange programs we bring together current and future leaders to exchange ideas, build trust, and strengthen the networks that underpin global cooperation.  As diplomacy continues to evolve, these people-to-people connections remain one of the most enduring drivers of partnership and mutual understanding.  #DiplomacyAt250 #OpenDiplomacy #Exchange #Global

The U.S. delegate application for the U.S. Congress - Republic of Korea National Assembly Exchange Program is due in one week! Apply by Friday, April 24 at 11:59 PM EDT in order to be considered for the Summer 2026 program. Learn more: meridian.org/project/u-s-co…

Financial crime doesn’t stop at borders—so neither can the response. Through IVLP, investigators from Kazakhstan connected with the Nashua Police Department’s Computer Forensics Unit to exchange practical approaches to digital investigations, forensic workflows, and complex virtual asset cases. These exchanges strengthen the rule of law, build trusted international partnerships, and equip leaders to address shared global challenges. #IVLP #ExchangesAtMeridian

Space knows no borders.🌕 IVLP participants got an inside look at @NASAGoddard, where cutting-edge research is powering missions like #Artemis and shaping the next era. Programs like IVLP are connecting international leaders directly to the people, technologies, and ideas advancing this work. #IVLP #OpenDiplomacy

This week: energy diplomacy in action. Through @ECAatState's #IVLP, a delegation from Cyprus met with @Chevron Corporation to tackle one of today’s most urgent global challenges—energy security. #ExchangesatMeridian #OpenDiplomacy #EnergySecurity

Across the United States, innovation is local—and its impact is global.  As part of the #IVLP, American Excellence in STEM, Meridian brought 13 Latin American leaders to the U.S. to explore how state and local ecosystems are driving STEM education, workforce development, and economic growth. By connecting leaders with these ecosystems firsthand, the program highlighted how subnational collaboration is shaping the future of innovation—and strengthening partnerships across borders.  Learn more: IVLP: meridian.org/project/ivlp-a…

Energy is more than a resource—it’s a driver of economic growth, security, and global stability.  Through a recent IVLP program: Energy as an Economic Driver, participants explored how U.S. energy policy, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration power local economies and shape global outcomes. From Washington, D.C., to Baltimore, Dallas, and Miami, the program highlighted how partnerships across government, industry, and research institutions are advancing energy solutions for the future.  By connecting global leaders with U.S. expertise, we’re helping turn shared challenges into shared opportunities.   Learn more:  meridian.org/project/ivlp-e…   #OpenDiplomacy #EnergySecurity #IVLP

As we reflect on five decades of partnership between the United States and the United Arab Emirates, we’re looking back at UAE–U.S.: 50 Years of Friendship— a Meridian exhibition that explored the evolution of a dynamic and multifaceted relationship.  Through 50 faces, the exhibition highlighted cooperation across diplomacy and security, trade and business, health and sports, education and environment, and arts and culture—offering a visual narrative of how these ties have grown over time.  As we continue our Diplomacy at 250 series, this partnership serves as a reminder that enduring relationships are built not only through policy, but through shared experiences, collaboration, and cultural exchange.  Learn more: uae-embassy.org/uae-us-coopera…  #DiplomacyAt250 #CulturalDiplomacy #USUAERelations

As we reflect on 250 years of American diplomacy, we’re looking north to one of our closest and most enduring partnerships. Northern Stars: 150 Years of U.S.-Canada Relations highlighted the moments—both historic and unexpected—that have shaped the relationship between the United States and Canada, from early political connections to modern cultural collaboration. Featured in a traveling photographic exhibition, these stories capture how two neighbors have built a partnership grounded in shared values, cooperation, and trust over generations. As part of our Diplomacy at 250 series, it’s a reminder that strong alliances are built over time—and continue to evolve. Photos courtesy of Connect2Canada.com

The alliance between the United States and South Korea has been a cornerstone of security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific since 1953. Built on a mutual defense treaty, the partnership helped deter conflict on the Korean Peninsula while laying the foundation for one of the world’s most dynamic economic relationships.  Over the decades, cooperation between the two countries has expanded beyond security to include trade, technology, and democratic governance—demonstrating the enduring strength of the alliance.  Today, the next generation of leaders continues to strengthen these ties. Applications for the U.S. Delegate Program for the United States Congress – National Assembly of the Republic of Korea Exchange Program are now open.  Apply by April 24: meridian.org/project/u-s-co… This program is funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea.  meridian.org/project/u-s-co…

The U.S. delegate application for the U.S. Congress - Republic of Korea National Assembly Exchange Program launches TODAY and will be open through April 24. Apply here: meridian.org/project/u-s-co…. This program is funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Republic of Korea National Assembly.

As the Washington Nationals gear up for Opening Day on April 3, we’re thinking back to Pacific Pitch: U.S.-Japan Baseball Diplomacy — a Meridian exhibition that explored how our shared love of baseball helped strengthen ties between the United States and Japan. From its introduction to Japan in the late 19th century to the modern era, baseball has been more than a game — it’s helped bridge cultures and foster connection across the Pacific. As we celebrate Opening Day and continue our Diplomacy@250 series, we’re reminded that just like diplomacy, baseball brings people together beyond borders — one pitch at a time. Learn more: meridian.org/pacificpitch/ 📸 Historical images courtesy of the Baseball Diplomacy Project. #OpeningDay #BaseballDiplomacy #Diplomacy250 #USJapanRelations

This week, we're hosting 29 #IVLP visitors for programs on: 🔹 U.S. Health Leadership 🔹 Energy as an Economic Driver 🔹 Virtual Asset Investigations #ExchangeMatters #ExchangeAtMeridian @ECAatState

The Meridian Exchange from Meridian International Center shares highlights from recent programs, key takeaways from our convenings, and updates on the global issues shaping our work. Subscribe to stay connected to Meridian’s community and conversations: meridian.org/subscribe/