PHOENIX — Senator Jeff Flake, Lt. General “Kip” Ward, and Secretary of State Michele Reagan joined the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition to discuss how America’s engagement abroad spurs economic growth here in Arizona and promotes our national security.

“I appreciate the mission of USGLC to support the elevation of diplomacy and development alongside defense in order to bring more stability to the world. Nowhere do you see these two pillars of foreign policy in greater display than we do in Africa,” said Senator Jeff Flake. “Development is crucial to African countries, but also important to Arizona, because it leads to economic growth and new markets for American goods.”

Phoenix is headquarters to some of the largest global brands and organizations in the world with rapidly growing international operations in emerging markets. Arizona exported more than $21 billion in goods and services to foreign markets in 2014, and trade supported close to one in four jobs in the state, making American global leadership a strategic issue for the Phoenix community.

“As the inaugural commander of the U.S. Africa Command, I know firsthand the importance of our nation’s development and diplomacy efforts. They are central in meeting our national security objectives while promoting our values,” said retired General Officer William “Kip” Ward. “In addition to preventing conflict and combating terrorism, our non-military investments overseas reduce the probability of having to deploy our service members into combat as a last resort in establishing peace and security.” General Ward led the U.S. Africa Command from 2007 to 2011.

“The root causes in the developing world that lead to instability have effects right here in Arizona,” said Dana J. Hyde, CEO of the Millennium Challenge Corporation. “By reducing poverty and fostering development overseas, MCC is on the front lines in Central America and across the world – building peace and creating opportunity.”

Liz Schrayer, President and CEO of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, said, “Our world is more interconnected than ever before, and what happens overseas affects us here at home. We cannot afford to step back, and leaders here in Arizona get this. They understand just how critical the small but strategic investment our nation makes in development and diplomacy keeps us safe and creates opportunity here in Arizona.”

View the event transcript here.

The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (www.usglc.org) is a broad-based influential network of 400 businesses and NGOs; national security and foreign policy experts; and business, faith-based, academic, military, and community leaders in all 50 states who support strategic investments to elevate development and diplomacy alongside defense in order to build a better, safer world.