The Spain- Dominican Republic Crisis: An AI Comms Wake-Up Call

The recent diplomatic firestorm between Spain and the Dominican Republic sounds like a plot from a political thriller.

Yet this crisis, sparked by an artificial intelligence-generated video, represents something more ominous: the dawn of an era where synthetic media threatens to upend international relations and corporate governance.

In this week's incident, Spain's conservative People's Party (PP) posted an AI-generated video on X featuring government officials, including a shirtless Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez lounging on a beach under the title "The Island of Corruption."

The Dominican Republic criticized Spain's main opposition party for an AI-generated video that implicitly connected the Caribbean nation to corruption while criticizing Spain's government. This incident prompted Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to issue an apology.

We stand at a pivotal moment when AI undermines truth in public conversations. The ability of fake digital content to cause diplomatic problems between friendly countries signals a new and serious risk to international stability.

Corporate leaders, in particular, face mounting risks from this AI comms revolution.

Consider how a well-crafted synthetic video could manipulate stock prices, derail mergers, or destroy brand reputations within hours. The tools to create such content expand on the hour while your communications and public affairs defenses remain inadequate.

The financial implications loom large.

While Congress debates AI regulation, bad actors continue developing more sophisticated tools for creating synthetic content. This gap between threat and response leaves businesses increasingly vulnerable.

The solution requires a multi-faceted approach.

First, corporations must invest in advanced detection technologies and establish rapid response protocols for synthetic media incidents.

Second, governments must create clear legal frameworks for addressing AI-generated content in diplomatic contexts.

Most critically, business and political leaders must collaborate to establish international standards for synthetic media verification.

The Spain - Dominican Republic crisis serves as a warning.

Business and civic leaders must act now to prevent synthetic media from becoming the preferred weapon in tomorrow's political and corporate battlefields. Democratic institutions and the global marketplace depend on it.

The future arrived faster than expected - it usually does.

The question remains: Will leaders meet its challenges or allow synthetic media to undermine global communications?

Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.

-Marc

Straight Talk | Lost in Translation

I'm sharing a recording from the Straight Talk podcast I did back on February 20th—a compelling conversation led by students with experts on Indo-Pacific affairs. Despite the dust devil of geopolitical events since then, the conversation remains timely and provides an accessible overview of today's geopolitical environment and its historical and geographical complexities.

In this episode, "Lost in Translation," I discussed the evolving nature of global power dynamics. For example, the Indo-Pacific is no longer a simple bipolar structure; as smaller nation-states are stepping up to shape policy and new global commercial players emerge, the US is navigating a new environment.

America's influence in crucial regions like the Taiwan Strait is increasingly contested. To respond, America employs strategic alliances like AUKUS to expand cultural soft-power influences like the NBA.

My goal in this pod is to provide an understanding so business leaders and communications pros can maintain sway in this pivotal region.

Listen on Spotify here.

-Marc

Trump to the #GlobalGreatLakes: Drop Dead

"The trouble with tariffs, to be succinct, is that they raise prices, slow economic growth, cut profits, increase unemployment, worsen inequality, diminish productivity, and increase global tensions. Other than that, they’re fine." -- David Kelly, Chief Global Strategist @ JP Morgan Asset Management

In today's interconnected global economy, the promise of protection through isolation is more a mirage than salvation. Sure, a policy of protectionism is good politics, but it is poor economics.

President Trump's push toward aggressive tariff policies signals troubling times ahead for those living and working in the Global Great Lakes region—where economic prosperity depends on seamless cross-border collaboration.

The economic ecosystem spanning the US-Canadian border isn't just about trade statistics; it's about real communities whose livelihoods depend on manufacturing supply chains that crisscross international boundaries. Our region has flourished precisely because of the symbiotic relationship between manufacturing, agriculture, and global trade.

History has repeatedly shown that trade partners rarely absorb tariffs passively. Nations defending their economic sovereignty respond with countermeasures, creating a cascade effect that amplifies economic downsides far beyond feel-good talk and political talking points that Trump administration staffers spout to friendly media outlets.

Trump's economic policies threaten the Global Great Lakes region.

These policies aren't abstract. These policies translate directly to:

- Higher costs for manufacturers who rely on imported components

- Restricted market access for agricultural exports

- Disrupted supply chains that took decades to optimize

- Diminished competitiveness in global markets

Because of Trump's tariffs, businesses, entrepreneurs, and consumers now face increased friction and economic hardship instead of the promised protection. The policies that Trump administration staffers claim will revitalize manufacturing will now stifle growth and undermine the financial security of those living and working in this interconnected region.

The Global Great Lakes economy wasn't built on isolation but on collaboration. The region's strength comes from leveraging comparative advantages across borders, not erecting barriers between partners.

Business and civic leaders must advocate for commonsense trade policies recognizing regional economic realities.

The future of communities in the Global Great Lakes depends not on divisive economic nationalism but on recommitting to the cooperative approach that made our region an economic powerhouse in the first place.

Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.

-Marc