The Aspen Strategy Group is proud to announce the release of On the Rise: Perspectives on Foreign Policy, the capstone project of the Rising Leaders Program Class of 2024. The Rising Leaders Program fosters the development of young foreign policy and national security leaders, encouraging them to work together on complex global challenges. Hailing from diverse backgrounds, sectors, and political affiliations, all Rising Leaders have one thing in common: their passion for national security and foreign policy.

Through the year-long program, participants exchange ideas on critical foreign policy issues with key decisionmakers—and each other—under the aegis of the Aspen Strategy Group. This publication is the product of these vital conversations and presents the Rising Leaders’ perspectives on key challenges in U.S. foreign policy and national security.

Contributors include:

Alberto Alberto, Rachel Brooks, Jasper Campbell, Phillip Davis II, Sofia Economopoulos, Cedric Habiyaremye, Matthew Hauwiller, Tina Huang, Eliza Mace, Michelle McCluer, Connor McCubrey, Kunal McKani, Chandler Myers, Timothy Pietrack, Kelsey Ritchie Frierson, Yulia Shalomov, Dillon Taylor, Seth Teleky, Madeleine Westerhout, and Amanda Zeidan.

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1
Steering the U.S.-India Defense Partnership: A Guide for the Next Administration
Chandler Myers and Phillip Davis II

CHAPTER 2
The Abraham Accords: A Model for Scaling Soft Power Amid Global Conflagrations
Madeleine Westerhout and Dillon Taylor

CHAPTER 3
Risky Business: Why the Government Needs to Take Cues from the Private Sector to Better Compete for Critical Technology
Alberto Alberto and Matthew Hauwiller

CHAPTER 4
The Department of Defense’s Roadmap to Mass Autonomy
Connor McCubrey and Jasper Campbell

CHAPTER 5
Bolstering U.S. AI Superiority: Targeted Investments for National Defense and Global Competitiveness
Kelsey Ritchie Frierson

CHAPTER 6
AI Model Cards for a Policy Audience
Tina Huang, Rachel Brooks, and Eliza Mace

CHAPTER 7
Cyber Diplomacy: A Global Strategy for Cyber Equity and Resilience
Michelle McCluer

CHAPTER 8
A New Approach to Hostage Diplomacy: Responding Offensively
Seth Teleky

CHAPTER 9
Building Bridges: Leveraging Alternative Diplomacy to Foster U.S.-African Relations and Counter Chinese Influence
Matthew Hauwiller and Cedric Habiyaremye

CHAPTER 10
The Geopolitics of Food Insecurity and Conflict: Strategic Policy Interventions for Global Stability
Timothy Pietrack and Cedric Habiyaremye

CHAPTER 11
Advancing U.S. Statesmanship in the United Nations: The U.S. and China on the Global Stage
Amanda Zeidan

CHAPTER 12
Don’t Just Knock the BRI – Beat It: How the U.S. Can Offer a Better Path for International Development
Sofia Economopoulos, Kunal McKani, and Yulia Shalomov