🌎 A Shared Strategy for North America’s Next Era

North America Strategy

North America is home to three deeply connected nations Canada, the United States, and Mexico. For much of history, these relationships were shaped by rivalry, mistrust, and competition. Yet today, global pressures demand something different. The future belongs to regions that coordinate, integrate, and act with shared purpose.

I have seen this reality firsthand as a former mayor of a border city in Arizona, former Director of the Arizona Department of Commerce, and former Chief of Staff at US Customs and Border Protection. Borders divide maps, but economies, security, and supply chains tell a different story.

From Rivalry to Partnership

Historic conflicts and trade disputes once defined relations across the continent. Over time, diplomacy and economic necessity shifted the trajectory. Agreements like NAFTA and later USMCA signaled a move toward cooperation, creating integrated markets and shared rules of engagement.

Environmental coordination, energy cooperation, and joint defense efforts show what is possible when trust replaces tension. These examples prove collaboration is not theoretical. It already works.

What a Shared North America Strategy Means

A shared strategy is not about surrendering sovereignty. It is about aligning interests where they already overlap.

Key areas include:

• Trade and supply chains

• Border and regional security

• Energy and environment

• Workforce mobility and innovation

An integrated approach strengthens resilience, reduces duplication, and allows the region to compete globally as one.

North America already functions as one of the most integrated production zones on Earth. Roughly one quarter of US Mexico trade crosses the border more than once before a product is finished. The strategy is already happening without a name.

Why This Matters Now

Global instability, supply chain shocks, and climate pressure are testing old models. Regions that coordinate will outperform those that fragment. A shared North America strategy offers stronger growth, better security, and long term stability for all three nations.

Through my work as CEO of Intermestic Partners, an international business advisory firm founded in 2011, I have helped leading national and global companies navigate cross border trade and development. The lesson is consistent. Regional thinking delivers better outcomes than isolated decisions.

Moving Forward

Progress starts with dialogue, trust, and pilot initiatives that scale. Government, business, and civil society all have a role to play. The goal is practical cooperation, not grand theory.

Call to Action

North America’s future will be shaped by those willing to think beyond borders. If you are exploring collaboration, policy alignment, or cross border growth, I invite you to engage with Intermestic Partners and be part of building what comes next.