Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun on U.S. Foreign Policy During a Pandemic

In the face of COVID-19, the State Department continues to demonstrate its commitment to global leadership. On April 24, Meridian hosted Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun for a virtual Insights@Meridian briefing to discuss his perspective on how COVID-19 is shaping U.S. foreign policy.

Deputy Secretary Biegun leads the State Department’s efforts on the White House Coronavirus Task Force, which coordinates and oversees the Administration’s efforts to monitor, prevent, contain, and mitigate the spread of the virus. In a conversation moderated by Ambassador Stuart Holliday, President and CEO of Meridian, more than 100 members of the foreign diplomatic corps and private sector heard from Deputy Secretary Biegun on how the United States is balancing its coordination on pandemic response with the pursuit of its long-term geostrategic interests, relationships with allies and adversaries, and economic goals. Ambassador Stephen J. Akard, Director of the Office of Foreign Missions, joined the conversation to discuss his office’s efforts to support embassies in Washington, DC. Attendees were able to engage in Q&A with Deputy Secretary Biegun and Ambassador Akard during the program.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo swore Stephen E. Biegun in as Deputy Secretary of State on December 21, 2019. Deputy Secretary Biegun continues to serve as the U.S. Special Representative for North Korea. He has over three decades of experience in government having served in various roles from national security advisor to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, White House Executive Secretary of the National Security Council from 2001-2003, and as a senior staff member to then National Security Advisor, Condoleezza Rice.

Insights@Meridian is designed to provide ambassadors and other senior diplomats with an opportunity to hear directly from Administration leaders, members of Congress, policymakers and business visionaries on vital policy issues of the day.