US States Expand Global Influence Through Paradiplomacy at COP29

State governments in the U.S. are increasingly engaging in paradiplomacy, where governors pursue independent foreign policy initiatives on issues like climate action and trade, exemplified by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee representing a coalition of governors at COP29 and California seeking tariff exemptions. Globally, the UK has boosted its military presence in the Middle East amid escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran, reinforcing strategic partnerships with Gulf states through significant arms exports and defense cooperation. Meanwhile, the U.S. faces strategic debates under President Donald Trump's administration regarding whether to prioritize deterring China or continuing support for Ukraine amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with competing views on how this affects U.S. global influence. India is deepening its global partnerships with major powers including the United States and Russia, emphasizing strategic autonomy and multilateral cooperation, with initiatives aiming to expand trade and defense ties significantly by 2030. These developments reflect a broader trend of diversified and dynamic foreign policy approaches by national and subnational actors in the evolving global order.