NC’s job boom depends on engaging the world, not retreating from it | Opinion

This year, North Carolina shattered its own economic development record. With nearly a month remaining in 2025, the state announced 33,745 new jobs and $23.1 billion in new investments — the most jobs ever announced in a single year in state history.

Behind these headline numbers is a less visible but equally powerful truth: many of these jobs exist because the United States has strong partnerships and alliances around the world. International diplomacy and global partnerships are not abstract ideals — they are engines of economic growth right here in North Carolina.

Right now is not the moment to pull back. It is the moment to push forward.

Let’s look at some of the major investments that have driven our success. Japan’s FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, in partnership with America’s own Johnson & Johnson, just opened a $3.2 billion facility in Holly Springs — the largest life science investment in the United States. Denmark-based Maersk is opening its North American headquarters in Charlotte, creating over 500 new jobs. Vietnam’s Boviet Solar opened two new industrial sites in Greenville, a $400 million investment creating over 1,300 jobs.

These companies chose North Carolina not by chance, but because the United States has spent decades building trust, stability, and reliable relationships with partners around the globe.

As we enter a new year, North Carolina’s booming economy should serve as a clear reminder that engagement abroad strengthens us at home. These investments are the product of sustained American diplomacy that establishes dependable legal frameworks, predictable trade and regulatory environments, and durable security partnerships.

The scale of global engagement in North Carolina underscores this point. In 2024, our state exported $42.8 billion in goods to the world, produced by approximately 145,000 workers across nearly 11,000 companies. International companies operating in North Carolina employ 321,400 American workers, including about 130,000 manufacturing jobs — proof that global trade supports local livelihoods.

As a veteran who served for 30 years, I understand that conflict is averted when America has a strong economy that cultivates mutually beneficial relationships with strong partners and allies. A robust economy, coupled with our defense tools and strong alliances, is what deters our rivals like China and Russia from testing American resolve in the first place.

Units stationed at Fort Bragg — particularly Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations forces — deploy worldwide to help partners build internal stability and economic resilience. When partner nations can provide jobs, basic services, and security for their people, American troops are less likely to be deployed to contain the fallout.

These efforts are force multipliers. Diplomacy opens markets. Development builds resilience. Trade and investment strengthen supply chains. What’s needed in the year ahead is not simply more spending, but smart, targeted investments overseas with clear objectives that ultimately benefit American workers and communities. While private companies take risks to build factories and create jobs, the government plays an indispensable role in shaping the global environment that makes those investments possible. The evidence of that partnership is all around us.

Our state’s success offers a powerful lesson: when America leads on the world stage, the payoff is tangible — thousands of jobs, billions in investment, and a stronger economy and national security. As competitors ramp up their global influence, our own security and prosperity are increasingly tied to events beyond our borders. This is why we must fully fund and deploy all the tools in our national security toolbox — because economic security is national security.

This year is proof that when we engage in the world, we win. We can’t afford to retreat — we have the momentum; let’s continue to build on it.

Bill Eckert is a 30-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force who has served in dozens of posts around the world. He is also a member of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition’s Veterans for Smart Power network and a resident of Chapel Hill.

This story was originally published December 30, 2025 at 4:30 AM with the headline "NC’s job boom depends on engaging the world, not retreating from it | Opinion."