At a time when the international order is rupturing, economic integration is increasingly weaponized by major powers - turning markets, supply chains, and technologies into arenas of geopolitical contestation. As a result, companies must build resilience, secure critical capabilities, and adapt business models, while governments must forge new alliances and redefine the nexus between national security and economic strength.
This moment demands a recalibration of the relationship between business and government. What new roles should each sector assume to preserve and strengthen its capacity to act under geopolitical pressure? How should risks and responsibilities be shared? Is it possible to align national priorities with the objectives of multinational companies? And how can governments recalibrate their alliances to enhance collective agency?
Under the theme “Advancing Alliances for the New Era”, BGD 2026 will explore how alliances of agency can enable more effective decision-making and collaboration between business and government to meet the demands of this new era.
