Summer School Alumnus Enrique Ponce Friend from Ecuador under the Spotlight

Summer School for Young Diplomats “Gavro Vuković” manages to spark long lasting connections and creates alumni network that is of vital significance.

We will put some additional light on alumni from different corners of the globe and find out, through 10 questions, what they are doing now and what perception they have about contemporary international relations but also what kind of messages they have for future Summer School participants.

We are pleased to have Enrique Ponce Friend from Ecuador under the spotlight.

1. Describe your career path in 100 words.

 I began my diplomatic career in 2012 when I was 24 years old in the Office of Bilateral Relations with Mexico, Central America and Caribbean Countries. In 2014, I assumed position in the Office of Neighborhood Relations and Sovereignty of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility of Ecuador.

From 2015 to 2020, I served in the Embassy of Ecuador in Israel and was in charge of the consular, cooperation and cultural affairs. In 2019, I had the opportunity to represent my country in the Summer School for Young Diplomats “Gavro Vuković”. Since August 2020, I am in the Directorate of Sovereignty and Neighborhood Relations. My current position is Chief of the Office of the Director.

2. Your Summer School experience in one sentence.

A wonderful and unique experience that allowed me to develop new professional skills, networking and share opinions with young diplomats around the world and know deeply about Montenegro and its kind people.

3. What are the major global challenges of diplomacy at the 21st century?

In my opinion, the major global challenges of diplomacy at the 21^st century are the following: climate change; sustainable development (Agenda 2030); security (specially Cybersecurity); human rights, gender equality; science, technology and innovation (STI), health, others.

It is important to mention that nowadays the world is facing a new challenge related to the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak. The international cooperation and the solidarity of the countries are elements to address this sanitary emergency. For example, in the cooperation area it is significant to encourage the exchange of knowledge and training in health matters between the countries in the public, private and academic fields.

4. What skills and knowledge the emerging generation of diplomats should focus on?

In my opinion, the new generation of diplomats must deepen their knowledge in digital and media diplomacy. The correct management of social media platforms and internet could be an important tool to transmit the views and foreign policy of your country in cooperation and cultural fields, as well as politics and economics.

An important tool of the digital era is data analysis. Through this mechanism, you can adopt the most accurate policy and decision against the challenges presented within the framework of international relations. Some academics conceptualize this term as “Data Diplomacy”.

Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) are important fields that new diplomats must be involved in. The world is constantly changing, thus there are new challenges to face. The best way to find a solution to those challenges is through STI. For example, in the current sanitary emergency, the cooperation between countries in science and innovation health matters, generate a positive effect to face this crisis, as I mention in the previous question.

Finally, new generations of diplomats have to be constantly updated with the new challenges that the world is facing in order to identify the best tools to deal with them.

5. How Summer School might contribute to empowering young diplomats?

The Summer School is the perfect setting to train, update, debate, and share experiences with colleagues from all over the world about different international topics and the challenges that societies face nowadays.

During my attendance at the “Gavro Vuković” Summer School, in 2019, I had the opportunity to widen my knowledge in negotiation and mediation, conflict resolution, analysis of regional conflicts, relations of Montenegro with European Union and NATO, and analysis and debate of relevant international topics such as Cybersecurity, Brexit, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and others. It is important to mention that those topics change according to the year’s program and are updated based on the world’s context.

6. World after COVID 19? What diplomacy can do to support post COVID 19 recovery?

Diplomacy is playing and will play an important role post Covid-19. In my opinion, I identify three main fields that diplomats can focus post pandemic:

• Promotion of the exportable offer and foreign direct investment projects of the country, with the aim of reactivating the local economy.
• “Tourism Diplomacy”: Position countries as a tourist destination in order to reactivate this sector that was strongly affected by the pandemic.
• International Cooperation: Promote international cooperation in the public, private and academic spheres, in order to generate technological and innovative tools to face the new global challenges that arise.

7. What could be the role of “vaccine diplomacy” in shaping the future international relations?

The supply or production of the vaccine against Covid -19 is one of the biggest priorities of the countries nowadays and it is a new trend in the bilateral and multilateral agenda of international relations.

8. If you could recommend a book on diplomacy and international relations to global community of young diplomats, what would it be?

• “The Diplomacy” by Henry Kissinger
• “After Hegemony” by Robert Keohane
• “The man, state and war” by Kenneth Waltz
• “Politics Among Nations” by Hans Morgenthau
• “Soft Power: The Means to Success in World Politics” by Joseph Nye

9. Your recommendation / advice for the future participants of Summer School for Young Diplomats “Gavro Vuković”.

My recommendation is to take advantage of this unique opportunity and enjoy every moment of this training. Be prepared to learn a lot from different professionals and academics in the fields of diplomacy and international relations.

Connect with young diplomats from all over the world, exchange experiences and knowledge, and don’t forget specially to stay in contact with them once the summer school is finished.

Enjoy Montenegro -a wonderful country – know their history, people, culture, food, as well as their rich biodiversity.

10. Your suggestion for empowering Summer School Alumni Network.

The diplomatic academy staff is doing a good job in updating the website and social media platforms.  As I mentioned in previous answers, in this new era the digital field is very important to communicate and stay connected with people.