Though the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Chinese President Xi Jinping’s signature foreign policy endeavor, has the potential to meet developing countries’ needs and spur economic growth, the reality is often otherwise. The COVID-19 pandemic has made a U.S. response more urgent, as the global economic contraction has accelerated the reckoning with BRI-related debt. Panelists discuss  how the United States should respond to BRI, including by putting forward an affirmative agenda of its own, drawing on its strengths, and coordinating with allies and partners to promote sustainable, secure, and environmentally responsible development.