Jonathan Finer, the Principal Deputy National Security Advisor in the Biden administration, recently spoke at the 35th Anniversary of the Black Professionals in International Affairs (BPIA) hosted by Ambassador Jacques Pitteloud of the Swiss Embassy. His speech brought to light the challenges and responsibilities in international affairs, and the critical role diversity plays in addressing them.
Finer began by acknowledging the inherent difficulties of working in international affairs. “I want to acknowledge by the way just at the offset that we are not in the good news business; in International Affairs. We don’t often sit around discussing how well things are going in different parts of the world.” He pointed out the current global crises in Ukraine and Gaza, and expressed his admiration for those who continue to work through these challenging times.
He described his role as one focused on convening, ensuring the right people, with the right expertise, and importantly, the right diversity of voices and views are present at the table. He said, “It’s critically important to have a diversity of voices to make sure that we are generating better policies, better outcomes for our country, frankly safety security for us and all of the people that we care about.”
Finer referred to the National Security Memorandum Three, one of the first documents issued by the President, to show the administration’s commitment to diversity. This memorandum aims to revitalize and diversify the National Security workforce to reflect the diversity of views and backgrounds in the country. Despite the progress made, Finer admitted that there is still room for improvement, particularly in including black Americans and other underrepresented groups.
However, he also recognized the enriching impact of diverse voices in these conversations, stating that their presence leads to better recommendations and decisions, ultimately making the country safer and more secure.
John Finer concluded his address by expressing his gratitude for the work that BPIA has done over the past 35 years. He assured that the administration will continue to support and invest in BPIA’s mission.
Watch Jonathan Finer, Assistant to the President and White House Principal Deputy National Security Advisor give his keynote remarks at the BPIA's 35th Anniversary Celebration held at the Swiss Ambassador's Residence in Washington D.C. @StateDept @WhiteHouse @HP @BMasalosalo… pic.twitter.com/RDoha4bkTX
— DiplomaticWatch (@Diplo_Watch) June 23, 2024
