Global security is the ability to protect people from threats that cross national borders, including terrorist attacks, climate change and extreme weather events, and pandemics. These threats can affect economies and disrupt communities. They can be mitigated only through cooperation between sovereign nations and international organizations. The United States has yet to realize that its own national security is linked to the security of people around the world, and that threats to one country can affect others thousands of miles away.
The causes of these threats are complex and interrelated. The direct answer is the evil intent of perpetrators willing to inflict immense destruction on their victims, but the full story stretches back much further. The root cause is a new global architecture in which nation-states are competing for control of resources, markets, technology and supply chains. This competition is taking place at the same time as globalization is drawing distant regions together into webs of mutual dependence and vulnerability.
To address these issues, the global community must work together to strengthen international cooperation and create a more secure world. This means building partnerships and establishing mechanisms that address the root causes of the threats, rather than simply trying to swat them up when they arise. The most effective approach will be multifaceted and cover all the policy instruments available to the global community. This approach will include military, diplomatic and political engagement, development assistance, economic support and non-military efforts such as education, training and fostering innovation in the developing world.