When relations between the United States and its longtime allies are roiled by high tariffs and a hard line implemented by the Trump administration, what can cities and states do to mitigate the fallout?
Though local laws and policies may not be able to directly impact foreign relations, city and state leaders can still use their platforms to modify public perception of global issues and form international partnerships that propel mutually beneficial economic growth.
“Over decades, our cities, states and regions have quietly weaved a resilient fabric of cooperation that keeps us connected when high politics falters,” said Max Bouchet, Director for City and State Diplomacy at the Truman Center for National Policy via telephone this month.
Many successful subnational diplomacy models exist that help to strengthen shared democratic and moral values across borders and drive economic development. Today, cities on both sides of the pond can replicate these relationships to show U.S. solidarity with Ukraine, and help spur economic growth and build cross-cultural ties with other European allies.
Standing With Ukraine Despite Shifting Loyalties
Ukraine is a useful example of how cities and states can craft their own policies to advance U.S. values. Despite the recent clash between President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, many American cities have long supported the war-torn country in its defense against Russia.
In March 2022, the U.S. Conference of Mayors adopted an emergency resolution “in support of the Ukrainian people and the democratic values under assault.” And last year, the German Marshall Fund and the Howard G. Buffett Foundation organized a “whistlestop tour” across the Midwest with the Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova.
In September 2024, then-Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, a Republican, made headlines as the first U.S. governor to visit Ukraine since Russia’s invasion. Holcomb paid his respects to fallen Ukrainian soldiers and discussed how the country can rebuild its economy once the war ends.
“By strengthening our global connections, even during the most challenging of times, our people and their communities can mutually grow and ultimately prosper,” Holcomb said at the time, modeling how local leaders can voice support for foreign allies.
Other cities and states can follow suit by fostering aid for Ukraine’s reconstruction, which is currently estimated at $524 billion over the next decade. The eventual rebuilding of Ukraine offers economic opportunities for global powers — China is positioned to leverage its construction expertise, and the U.S. can pursue both business interests and strategic goals through company and municipal partnerships.
To advance these efforts, U.S. cities and states could organize delegations of business leaders to Ukraine to meet with elected officials and industry groups. These partnerships could benefit both the Ukrainian people and U.S. communities, while also thwarting the rise of China in the region.
Driving More Cross-Collaboration Between Cities
Beyond Ukraine, U.S. cities and states should also look to create more economic development partnerships with our European friends. Mayors and governors have long traveled internationally to attract business to their hometowns. In February, Democratic Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota led a business development mission in the Netherlands. “I’m making the case that Minnesota will remain open for business, and we’ll continue to enjoy well established ties to our European allies,” Walz posted on Facebook. In a speech in the Hague the Governor reiterated Minnesota’s ambitious climate agenda – despite the U.S. exit from the Paris Climate Agreement, highlighting how states can shape industrial policies independently and create opportunities for businesses and policymakers in a shifting geopolitical landscape.
The U.K. recently signed memorandums of understanding with Florida and Colorado, aiming to strengthen trade, investment, and cooperation in areas such as clean energy, tourism, and technology. These city- and state-level international engagements have taken on a new level of importance as diplomacy under the Trump administration reverses decades of amicable relations.
“While transatlantic relations are reaching a new low, we need to look into the deeper layers connecting the United States and Europe,” says Bouchet, from the Truman Center for National Policy. “City-to-city partnerships like Los Angeles and Paris on the Olympics, region-to-region exchanges like Northern Virginia and the Verband Region Stuttgart on green infrastructure planning, and countless others show how strategic subnational diplomacy is a source of ballast.” Meridian International Center hosted a landmark symposium on strategic subnational diplomacy in collaboration with Truman this past January to “equip local leaders with tools, resources, and support to strengthen their global engagement.”
Germany, which boasts the largest economy in the E.U., hosted an inaugural constructive day-long summit for 28 German and American mayors in New York last year to develop transatlantic solutions to common challenges such as the development of digital infrastructure for cities. “Subnational diplomacy has today become a political necessity… German and American cities further strengthen our close partnership,” said German Ambassador Andreas Michaelis via email this week. “It is an asset to our transatlantic relations, and we have neglected its political and economic importance for far too long…this is why Germany will continue to invest in relations between German and US cities over the long term.”
Finding Ways To Strengthen Transatlantic Ties
Strong U.S.-Europe relations drive global prosperity through free trade agreements, reinforce shared democratic values and enable effective collaboration on international challenges, from climate change to security threats. Around 8 million U.S. jobs depend on trade and investment with the European Union, the largest foreign investor in the U.S.
While many agree that Europe should contribute more to its self-defense, it is imperative to U.S. national interests that we maintain a united front with our transatlantic neighbors. Strong trade agreements with Europe also increase our competitiveness against Chinese economic practices, such as intellectual property theft and state subsidies.
At a crucial moment when transatlantic relations are at an all-time low, cities and states can seize an opportunity. By investing in partnerships with Europe, local American leaders can create lasting bonds with our allies, boost economic growth and strengthen protection against foreign adversaries seeking to benefit from a U.S.-Europe rift.