New tool tracks San Antonio leaders' global work
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Rebecca Zisser/Axios
A new interactive tool shows the extent of local government and business leaders' international engagement.
Why it matters: The Truman Center's new Multilevel Diplomacy Map is the first of its kind to publicly track where and how San Antonio officials are working abroad in hopes of bringing home jobs and boosting the city's global profile.
The big picture: The tool visualizes more than 3,000 individual engagements by U.S. cities and states with foreign leaders and businesses.
- It includes travel and other engagements by mayors, governors, their senior staff and public agencies.
Zoom in: Mexico is, unsurprisingly, the top foreign country that San Antonio officials engage with, closely followed by Germany.
The intrigue: Namibia, in southern Africa, places No. 3.
By the numbers: San Antonio leaders often work internationally on economic issues like trade and tourism, which make up 35% of the city's global engagements.
- Another 31% of engagements are about culture and education, and 15% of engagements are related to climate issues.
State of play: The tool shows specific ways in which San Antonio engaged internationally.
- University of Texas at San Antonio president Taylor Eighmy led a group to Mexico last year to promote collaboration and investments in workforce and economic development.
- The city of San Antonio hosted a delegation of business leaders from Panama in 2022.
- Also in 2022, the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce hosted the Namibian Ambassador to the United States.
Between the lines: The Truman Center hopes the tool will help public officials and business leaders support international efforts by understanding what's driving those engagements across the country.
- It can also help academic or other researchers focused on U.S. diplomacy.
What they're saying: "Diplomacy led by governors, mayors and other local leaders is an essential component of American foreign policy," Jon Temin, the center's vice president of policy and programs, said in a statement.
- "In times of domestic political uncertainty, these relationships are a vital stabilizing layer in America's global engagement."
What's next: The tool will be updated with new data on a rolling basis.