American-German Institute

Halle Foundation/AGI Internships Halle Foundation/AGI internships aim to: Introduce interns to all aspects (administrative, programming, development, research) of an American nonprofit public policy institute. Provide opportunities…

The Halle Foundation/AGI Internship Program provides a paid professional and educational experience in a not-for-profit think-tank that works to build a stronger German-American partnership. Apply for spring internships by November 7:

A wide-ranging discussion this morning on German reunification, from the Peaceful Revolution of 1989 to voting patterns in 2025. Many thanks to Dr. Anna von der Goltz and @schuneke.bsky.social for sharing their insights, and to our partners at @amgerinst.bsky.social for cohosting Tuesday's event!

Adapting German Foreign & Security Policy to a New Threat Environment Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s First Steps German Chancellor Friedrich Merz entered office in May 2025 promising a more strategic and unified foreign and security policy to keep Germany safe, influential...

AGI's new publication, "Adapting German Foreign & Security Policy to a New Threat Environment" examines how Chancellor Merz must build on early successes through concerted action, resources, and institutional reform: americangerman.institute/publication/...

Episode 134: Europe’s Strategic Dependencies The dynamics of the transatlantic relationship are changing. As Europe faces the changing policies of the United States toward its alliances, Germany is investing in its armed forces at a …

Germany has been building its military capabilities and coordinating closely with European partners. In our latest podcast, @annakatrein.bsky.social discusses what Germany still needs to do to prepare for strategic independence:

I recently spoke with @amgerinst.bsky.social’s “Building LGBTQ+ Communities in Germany & the United States” fellows about life in public service, the work of @outinnationalsecurity.org , and how both countries have fitfully advanced full and equal citizenship within national security institutions.

Finja Augsburg, DAAD/AGI Research Fellow AGI is pleased to welcome Finja Augsburg as a DAAD/AGI Research Fellow in Fall 2025. Finja Isabel Augsburg is a doctoral researcher and project associate at the University of Erfurt, …

AGI welcomes Finja Augsburg as a DAAD/AGI Research Fellow. A doctoral researcher and project associate at the University of Erfurt, her research at AGI aims to advance understanding how uncertainty impacts transatlantic dialogue on planetary health:

Iulian Romanyshyn, DAAD/AGI Research Fellow AGI is pleased to welcome Dr. Iulian Romanyshyn as a DAAD/AGI Research Fellow in Fall 2025. Dr. Iulian Romanyshyn is a senior fellow and lecturer at the Center for Advanced …

AGI is pleased to welcome Dr. Iulian Romanyshyn as a DAAD/AGI Research Fellow. His research project at AGI will focus on the question of security guarantees for Ukraine based on the concept of sufficient deterrence. Read more:

Peering into the Global Trading System of 2035 The year is 2035. During much of the last twenty-five years, the international economic system has faced tumult. Geopolitical fractures and domestic political upheavals played their part as they steer...

In his latest blog, Peter Rashish looks to the global trading system in 2035. How and why did it evolve? Is it worth it to embrace the new geoeconomics-driven form of globalization? americangerman.institute/2025/10/peer...

Nele Marianne Ewers-Peters, DAAD/AGI Research Fellow AGI is pleased to welcome Dr. Nele Marianne Ewers-Peters as a DAAD/AGI Research Fellow in Fall 2025. Dr. Nele Marianne Ewers-Peters is Assistant Professor for European Security at the Faculty …

AGI welcomes Dr. Nele Marianne Ewers-Peters as a DAAD/AGI Research Fellow. She will explore the rationales and objectives behind minilateral security cooperation frameworks alongside existing multilateral security organizations such as NATO and the EU:

Halle Foundation/AGI Internships Halle Foundation/AGI internships aim to: Introduce interns to all aspects (administrative, programming, development, research) of an American nonprofit public policy institute. Provide opportunities…

The Halle Foundation/AGI Internship Program provide a paid professional and educational experience in a nonprofit think-tank that works to build a stronger German-American partnership. Apply for the spring internship by November 7:

Improving Foreign and Security Policymaking in Germany This is the third of a three-part series addressing German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s approach to foreign and security policy and initial actions, the key issues Merz faces through the end …

Friedrich Merz has established a National Security Council. Phyllis Berry identifies three key dimensions in order for it to deliver successful foreign and security policy:

Episode 134: Europe’s Strategic Dependencies The dynamics of the transatlantic relationship are changing. As Europe faces the changing policies of the United States toward its alliances, Germany is investing in its armed forces at a …

How have Germany and Europe reacted to U.S. foreign policy changes under the second Trump administration? Listen to our latest podcast episode with @annakatrein.bsky.social on the evolution of the transatlantic relationship:

Chancellor Merz’s Key Choices on German Foreign and Security Policy This is the second of a three-part series addressing German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s approach to foreign and security policy and initial actions, the key issues Merz faces through the end …

What are Chancellor Merz's policy options as he addresses war in Ukraine, strengthening the Bundeswehr, European security, and the transatlantic relationship? Phyllis Berry analyzes how he must go beyond current policy to address these issues:

Our transatlantic #agilgbtqexchange participants met this week with leaders from government, media, and civil society in Washington, DC. This fall they’ll share insights through articles, podcasts & multimedia reports – stay tuned for their reflections!

Chancellor Merz’s Key Choices on German Foreign and Security Policy This is the second of a three-part series addressing German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s approach to foreign and security policy and initial actions, the key issues Merz faces through the end …

Chancellor Merz is facing key decisions on Ukraine, Germany’s armed forces, European security, and the EU's role in the world. Phyllis Berry examines his policy choices in the months ahead:

The Case for a German Grand Strategy The early morning hours of February 24, 2022, shocked many German citizens and politicians. War on the European continent had been perceived as a relic of the past; the notion …

Effective grand strategy requires more than clear threat assessments and acknowledging strategic trade-offs. Halle Foundation/AGI Intern Frederik Fink argues it also requires sustained public engagement by politicians:

Germany is doing more to invest in its military. On the newest episode of The Zeitgeist, MdB Hubertus Heil discussed how to ensure that the investments were effective and sustainable: americangerman.institute/podcast/epis...

Shaking Off the European Hangover Europe has a hangover, and it shows. Gone is the cocktail of defiance and apprehension that accompanied the first few months of the second Trump administration. The summer has unveiled …

In her State of the Union, Ursula von der Leyen acknowledged that Europe must "fight for its place in the world." Alex Privitera writes that the EU must find a way to keep working with the US proactively rather than reactively:

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Foreign Policy Approach This is the first of a three-part series addressing German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s approach to foreign and security policy, initial achievements, the key issues Merz faces through the end of …

Friedrich Merz promised a more strategic foreign and security policy when he entered office. Phyllis Berry analyzes his approach and achievements so far:

Jens Hanefeld has presented his credentials and is now officially Germany's ambassador to the US. Halle Foundation/AGI Intern Frederik Fink profiles the new ambassador and issues on the transatlantic agenda: americangerman.institute/2025/09/agi-...

Episode 133: The SPD and Its Foreign Policy Challenges The center-left Social Democrats are the junior coalition partner in Friedrich Merz’s government, but they hold two of the most important portfolios for implementing Germany’s security policy revolution known as …

In a new podcast episode, Member of the Bundestag Hubertus Heil (SPD) discusses the center-left party's stance on Russia and Ukraine and Germany’s efforts to strengthen the Bundeswehr and recruit more personnel. Listen now: americangerman.institute/podcast/epis...

Find out more about the networks between right-wing parties in Europe and the US in our podcast with Annett Meiritz and @jschaeuble.bsky.social. We discuss the findings of their book, The Alliance of the New Right, which is out today. Listen: americangerman.institute/podcast/epis...

Strobe Talbott and the Rise of the Liberal Post-Cold War Order Currently, we are witnessing enormous stress on the institutions established in the post-Cold War era. A new era of great power competition and a revival of authoritarianism threaten to undermine …

Strobe Talbott was committed to building a security architecture that would ensure peace and stability in Europe. Read more about Talbott's vision for the post-Cold War order in an article adapted from Stephan Kieninger's book, which is out today:

Trumps neues Dekret: Das Wort "Kriegsministerium" ist zurück Das US-Verteidigungsministerium heißt wieder Kriegsministerium. Zumindest im Sprachgebrauch von Präsident Donald Trump und seiner Regierung.

AGI President @jeffrathke.bsky.social spoke to ZDF about the Department of Defense's rebrand to the Department of War and what it means for U.S. policy:

Central Bank Independence at Risk—For Various Reasons The news surrounding the independence of the U.S. Federal Reserve remains explosive. U.S. President Donald Trump is keeping up the pressure on the Fed, including its chairman, Jerome Powell. Trump …

Increasing attacks on the Fed and pressure on its governors have raised questions about if it can remain independent of politics. Joern Quitzau examines how a central bank can become politically influenced or dependent:

Jakob Hensing, DAAD/AGI Research Fellow AGI is pleased to welcome Jakob Hensing as a DAAD/AGI Research Fellow in Fall 2025. His permanent position is at the Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi) in Berlin, where he …

AGI is pleased to welcome @jhensing.bsky.social as a DAAD/AGI Research Fellow in Fall 2025. At AGI, he will research U.S. techno-economic statecraft to understand how the positions and expertise of industry stakeholders feature in the U.S. policy process. americangerman.institute/2025/09/jako...

Kathrin Ritzka, DAAD/AGI Research Fellow AGI is pleased to welcome Kathrin Ritzka as a DAAD/AGI Research Fellow in Fall 2025. Kathrin Ritzka is a doctoral researcher and Research Associate in Catholic Theology at Humboldt University …

AGI is pleased to welcome Kathrin Ritzka as a DAAD/AGI Fellow this fall. Her research at AGI will examine how the Catholic Church in the U.S. and Germany has responded to migration policy debates between 2001 and 2025: americangerman.institute/2025/09/kath...

Germany’s Party Ban Proceedings against the AfD Speaker: Marco Buschmann, Former Federal Minister of Justice, Federal Republic of Germany Moderator: Eric Langenbacher, Senior Fellow and Director of the Society, Culture & Politics Program, AGI…

The classification of the AfD as extremist earlier this year has led to some in Germany to call for a ban of the right-wing party. Next Thursday, join AGI and Marco Buschmann for a discussion of the constitutional provisions for party bans in Germany:

Episode 132: Transatlantic Alliances of the New Right Ties between far-right parties and movements in Europe and the United States and Germany are growing. Annett Meiritz and Juliane Schäuble join this episode of The Zeitgeist to discuss their …

In a new episode of The Zeitgeist podcast, journalists Annett Meiritz and @jschaeuble.bsky.social discuss the ties between far-right networks in the U.S. and Germany—how they're networking, learning from each other, and working together. Listen now: americangerman.institute/podcast/epis...

The Secret of Strobe Talbott’s and Bill Clinton’s Friendship New Insight from Strobe Talbott’s Diaries Senior staff turnovers within the White House or the executive branch are not uncommon. There are many reasons, including firing, exhaustion, overwork, politi...

Strobe Talbott was a close advisor to Bill Clinton, serving all eight years of Clinton's administration. Stephan Kieninger examines how their friendship endured from their days as Rhodes Scholars and how Talbott's trusted advice influenced key US policies: americangerman.institute/2025/08/the-...