27th Parliamentary-Intelligence Security Forum – Remarks
Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett opened by highlighting the timeliness of discussions on national and international security, terrorism, intelligence sharing, cybersecurity, and the transformative impact of 5G and AI. Drawing from her background growing up in New York and now representing a U.S. territory in the Caribbean, she emphasized her unique perspective as the first member of a U.S. territory to serve on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
As Ranking Member of the Intelligence Community’s National Intelligence Enterprise Subcommittee, overseeing agencies including the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the FBI, she stressed the responsibility of ensuring that intelligence collection supports sound national security decisions. She warned of democratic backsliding worldwide and growing strategic competition with adversaries such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, citing China’s expanding economic and technological influence, Russia’s defense buildup and ties with other rivals, Iran’s support for regional proxies, and North Korea’s advancing nuclear ambitions. She expressed concern over instability and coups in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, noting how fragile governments create openings for Russian and Chinese influence, often through opaque financial agreements tied to natural resources. She also raised alarms about growing security threats in the Caribbean, including trafficking, Haiti’s crisis, and increasing Chinese infrastructure investments in the region.
Emphasizing the importance of partnerships, she underscored the need for diversified perspectives within intelligence services and stronger collaboration among democratic nations. She concluded by urging continued cooperation to address an increasingly fragile global order and to safeguard security and prosperity for citizens worldwide.
