American-German Institute

Preceding the Munich Security Conference’s plenary session, AGI hosted its annual breakfast on the state of transatlantic relations. This event featured remarks from U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Thom Tillis alongside German Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil.

To highlight the importance of partnership and dialogue for industry in the region, State Secretary Karin Müller delivered remarks focused on transatlantic exchange and collaboration.

Session II featured conversations around the evolving global trading system as the EU and the United States navigate new geoeconomic challenges.

Hosted at Berenberg Bank, AGI’s symposium, “The Transatlantic Economy in 2026,” opened with a panel on economic security and competitiveness with leading experts from government, think tanks, and private industry.

AGI’s DAAD/AGI Alumni Networking Breakfast convened in Frankfurt yesterday, bringing together our network of scholars and professionals across many years of transatlantic exchange.

Germany’s Economy in 2026 Turnaround or another year of gloom? Will 2026 mark the turnaround for the German economy? While many international investors seem to believe in a debt-fueled comeback, fiscally conservative German…

Will the German economy turn around in 2026? While many international investors seem to believe in a debt-fueled comeback, fiscally conservative German authorities remain cautious. Alex Privitera examines if the gloomy outlook is justified:

The Transatlantic Relationship and the Future Global Trading System Today’s challenges to the global trading system are exacerbating a dynamic that is at least a decade old. Since the failure of the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations to …

Will the next decade bring transition, mutation, or rupture to the global trading system? Peter Rashish writes in a new report that it will depend on the capacity of transatlantic partners to exert joint agency in a more diverse and competitive world.

Book Talk: The Hobbled State Fractured Politics in Contemporary Germany Speaker: Mark I. Vail, Worrell Chair of Politics and International Affairs, Wake Forest University Moderator: Eric Langenbacher, Senior Fellow and Director…

ICYMI: Yesterday's book talk on The Hobbled State: Fractured Politics in Contemporary Germany is now available to watch online:

Episode 140: The Transatlantic Relationship in a Transforming Global Trading System How have increased geopolitical competition and changing trade policy objectives affected the transatlantic relationship, and what are the shared priorities for German and U.S. business? On this episo...

How have increased geopolitical competition and changing trade policy objectives affected the transatlantic relationship? What are the shared priorities for German and U.S. business? Listen to our latest podcast episode with DHL Group CEO Tobias Meyer: americangerman.institute/podcast/epis...

A New Realm of Strategic Competition Germany’s Space Strategy and Its Transatlantic Implications Panelists: Antje Nötzold, Senior Researcher, Support for Arms Control in Space, University of the Bundeswehr Munich; Private Lecturer,…

Did you miss our event on Germany's space posture? You can now watch "A New Realm of Strategic Competition: Germany’s Space Strategy and Its Transatlantic Implications" online:

Two Shades of Liberalism D66’s Rise in the Netherlands and the FDP’s Collapse in Germany When Dutch voters returned to the polls in late October 2025 after the collapse of the short-lived Schoof government, …

In 2025, the Dutch D66 won the federal election, and their German neighbors FDP were dealt their worst federal election result. Luca Vozzi examines the divergent fate of these two liberal parties:

How can Germany rethink its state architecture to better address economic, social, and geopolitical challenges? Join AGI on January 29 for a discussion of Professor Mark Vail's new book, 'The Hobbled State: Fractured Politics in Contemporary Germany': americangerman.institute/events/2026/...

Deterrence Under Uncertainty Europe’s Long-Range Strike Dilemma A Familiar Dilemma in a New Strategic Era The American security umbrella has leaks, the chancellor says. At first glance, this line could easily be mistaken …

Europe relies on U.S. long-range strike systems for deterrence, but the credibility of the U.S. deterrent is in doubt. Marlon Demandt writes that Europe must build sovereign long-range strike capability or risk another generation of strategic dependence:

Episode 139: The German-Polish Relationship amid Changing European Security Challenges The European security landscape is shifting. The United States is pressuring Europe to manage the defense of its region, and many NATO allies have growing doubts about the long-term reliability …

"This German rhetoric on Germany being the strongest European ally is generally not well-received in Poland... We don't want to feel dependent on Germany because of past policies vis-a-vis Russia and Ukraine that were simply a strategic mistake." americangerman.institute/podcast/epis...

Merz Aims to Improve Coordination, Shore up Party Support with Chancellery Shakeup In office just eight months, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has replaced his once closest aide as part of an effort to demonstrate his focus on economic reform, improve coordination between …

Earlier this month, the Chancellery announced that Friedrich Merz would replace Chief of Staff Jacob Schrot with Philipp Birkenmaier. Phyllis Berry analyzes the shakeup in the chancellor's office ahead of a challenging year:

Episode 139: The German-Polish Relationship amid Changing European Security Challenges The European security landscape is shifting. The United States is pressuring Europe to manage the defense of its region, and many NATO allies have growing doubts about the long-term reliability …

How is Poland navigating a shifting strategic landscape in Europe? @jgotkowska.bsky.social joins the latest episode of The Zeitgeist podcast to discuss Poland's security relationships and how Poland views Germany's new military ambitions:

Looking forward to discussing strategic competition in #space & the #US-#European challenges and opportunities, together with Antje Nötzold and @jeffrathke.bsky.social, organized by the @amgerinst.bsky.social

📅 January 13, 2026, 4:00–5:00 PM CET / 10:00–11:00 AM EST
🔗 Register for the webinar here

Where Does the Catholic Church Stand on Migration Policy? On November 12, 2025, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) released a special message at its annual conference in Baltimore, the first of its kind in the last …

Can migration policy be a lens that helps us understand current tendencies of the orientation and situation of Catholics? DAAD/AGI Fellow Kathrin Ritzka's new publication looks at how the Church in Germany and the US responds to migration policy:

The United States and WTO Reform While the Trump administration’s trade policy has gained attention for the series of bilateral tariff-raising deals it orchestrated in 2025, at the end of last year, the United States also …

Last month, the U.S. issued a communication “On WTO Reform.” Peter Rashish writes the U.S. is right that the WTO needs to address systemic unfairness, but not at the cost of disorder:

Deterrence by Self-Defense? Ukraine, Security Guarantees, and Transatlantic Relations Ever since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014, seized Crimea, and occupied parts of the Donbas region, a major question confronting transatlantic…

Western allies met again this week to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine. DAAD/AGI Fellow Iulian Romanyshyn's publication maps a postwar security arrangement that would deter Russia, reassure Ukraine, and strengthen the transatlantic alliance:

A Disastrous Year in German-American Relations 2025 will surely go down as the worst in German-American relations since World War II. To be sure, there have been many deep disagreements since the formation of the German-American …

The America First policies of the second Trump administration could set Europe on a path to balance against the United States. Despite the strained relationship in 2025, Stephen Szabo also finds areas of transatlantic convergence for the year ahead:

A New Realm of Strategic Competition Germany’s Space Strategy and Its Transatlantic Implications Panelists: Antje Nötzold, Senior Researcher, Support for Arms Control in Space, University of the Bundeswehr Munich; Private Lecturer,…

Next Tuesday, January 13, join AGI, @andrearotter.bsky.social, and Antje Nötzold for a discussion on the changing geopolitical role of space, European space security, and the changing dynamics of transatlantic space cooperation. Register:

Episode 135: Reenergizing the German Economy The German economy is stagnating, and Chancellor Friedrich Merz has promised an autumn of reforms. But are the government’s policies enough to restore competitiveness? Berenberg Chief Economist…

Germany has serious reforms to implement in order to restart its economy. On a recent podcast episode, Holger Schmieding discussed how the government could tackle these big challenges like public investment in 2026:

Episode 138: The Trump Administration, the AfD, and German Foreign Policy Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) has been known for its foreign policy embrace of Russia and China, but in recent months, the party has turned its sights on building ties …

"The AfD has gone to great lengths to establish contacts with the Trump admin in order to break out of isolation and form a new transatlantic alliance based on state sovereignty, hard-right values, anti-mainstream parties & anti-mainstream press."

Building Resilience How LGBTQ+ Organizations in Germany and the United States Navigate Right-Wing Backlash Participants in the American-German Institute program “Building LGBTQ+ Communities in Germany and the United…

LGBTQ+ Americans are facing existential threats to social and legal progress, and it is possible that LGBTQ+ Germans could face similar challenges. What lessons can they learn from each other about how to remain active in adverse political situations?

Episode 138: The Trump Administration, the AfD, and German Foreign Policy Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) has been known for its foreign policy embrace of Russia and China, but in recent months, the party has turned its sights on building ties …

How might the AfD’s foreign outreach influence their domestic popularity? Is their new transatlanticism impacting Chancellor Merz’s relationship with President Trump? We discuss the AfD’s U.S. outreach on the latest episode of The Zeitgeist podcast:

(De)Romanticizing Uncertainty at the Transatlantic Science-Policy Interface? Insights from a U.S.-German Case Study On November 21, 2025, South Carolina became the first U.S. state to sign a Joint Declaration of Intent with Germany, formalizing a new economic …

Scientific uncertainty can make addressing policy challenges like climate change & pandemics difficult, but it can also be a catalyst for cooperation. Finja Augsburg's new publication examines how to constructively—and transatlantically—manage uncertainty:

Episode 137: Friedrich Merz: Foreign Policy Chancellor Chancellor Merz has received praise internationally for many German foreign policy and defense initiatives in 2025: suspending the “debt brake” to allow for more security investments, expanding the…

Chancellor Merz is working to strengthen Germany's partnerships in Europe. In our most recent podcast episode, Nicole Bastian discusses how Merz uses bilateral, minilateral, and multilateral formats to advance German interests:

Beyond the Antichrist and the Kill Switch The real political economy of U.S. tech statecraft and what it means for Europe One of the many remarkable features of the second Trump presidency has been the highly public …

Does U.S. tech statecraft put European digital services at risk? DAAD/AGI Fellow @jhensing.bsky.social examines the political economy of U.S. tech companies and recommends how Europe can improve its strategic position in tech:

It’s the Single Market, Stupid James Carville, President Bill Clinton’s campaign strategist, famously quipped about the 1992 U.S. election that, “it’s the economy, stupid.” That kind of simple—but not simplistic—communication about...

Europe is facing headwinds in its external environment. Peter Rashish argues that to exert influence abroad, Europe should have a strong single market at home: americangerman.institute/2025/12/its-...