20th Parliamentary Intelligence-Security Forum – Special Remarks
Senator Pressler first addresses the crowd, and he states his enthusiasm for how long the forum has been able to run. He cites how important it is to world safety that world leaders and parliamentarians come together to meet on foreign policy.
From his days back in Vietnam and Congress, Senator Pressley begins to discuss the difference between “hard power” and “soft power.” Yes, in the past
the United States and Allies have used soft power to and policy change to try to slowly influence unstable countries and regions into the realm of democracy; yes, in the past United States and Allies have used hard power to directly fight and take land in the name of democracy too. Regardless, Senator Pressley makes the important point that for the United States and Allies to find true success in establishing an influence in power in foreign lands, they must use a calculated and strategic combination of both.
Lastly, Senator Pressley commends China in their ability to exert influence in Africa. Africa is indeed one of the fastest growing regions in the world, and the Chinese surely notice this. As they gradually help African countries build infrastructure and government/public institutions, the Chinese become more important in regions, and Africans slowly begin to rely on them more and more. Pressler finishes with the idea that African dependence is Chinese power.
