WELLINGTON – AIIA National Programs and Publications Manager Emily Mosley spoke at the 2025 New Zealand Institute of International Affairs (NZIIA) National Conference, delivering remarks on a panel titled “Trump 2.0 and What It Means for New Zealand and the World.” Her presentation focused on a critical yet often overlooked component of U.S. foreign policy during politically volatile times: the role of the U.S. Congress.
In her remarks, Mosley argued that while much international attention is paid to the volatility of the U.S. executive, insufficient attention is given to the legislative branch’s stabilizing role. “If the international community disengages from the U.S. Congress and accepts the narrative that the rules-based order is already dead, that narrative risks becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy,” she said. “The erosion of global norms is not inevitable.”
Mosley outlined several concrete examples of bipartisan resistance to Trump-era proposals in the current 119th Congress—from blocked legislative initiatives to reaffirmed NATO commitments and continued foreign aid funding. These, she noted, are signs of institutional resilience that deserve greater strategic engagement from international policymakers.
Her presentation concluded with a call to action: “The rules-based order isn’t dead yet, but preserving it requires recognizing that in the American system, Congress—not just the President—shapes foreign policy. International partners who engage strategically with congressional actors are more likely to maintain stable bilateral ties, even in turbulent times.”
The AIIA and the NZIIA have a long history of close cooperation, with each institute sending delegates and speakers to the other’s events. AIIA representation at this year’s conference sparked calls for more AIIA-NZIIA collaboration.
Prominent commentators in the foreign policy community in Australia and New Zealand present at the conference stating on social media that they hoped “we might see greater cross-strait institutional collaboration in years to come.”
