If anything, the Covid-19 pandemic has underscored the common global challenges facing Europe and the United States that know no national or geographic boundaries. Global health concerns, climate change, arms control, an increasingly aggressive Russia, and domestic and international concerns regarding China are among the common challenges that require a joint approach. There is more urgency than ever to prevent a fracturing of the multilateral system.
Join the American Council on Germany and the New York office of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung for a discussion between Ambassador John B. Emerson, former U.S. Ambassador to Germany and Chair of the ACG, and Ambassador Christoph Heusgen, German Ambassador to the United Nations, about the pressures on the multilateral system.
Ambassador John B. Emerson was named Chairman of the American Council on Germany on January 17, 2018. He is Vice Chairman at Capital Group International. Previously, he served as United States Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany from August 2013 until January 20, 2017. He served at a particularly challenging time, and in 2015 Ambassador Emerson was awarded the State Department’s prestigious Sue M. Cobb Award for Exemplary Diplomatic Service, which is given annually to one non-career Ambassador. He also served on President Obama’s Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations.
Ambassador Christoph Heusgen has been the Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations since July 2017 and has been Germany’s representative on the Security Council 2019-2020. Before coming to New York, Ambassador Heusgen served for 12 years as Foreign and Security Policy Advisor to the Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel. His career in the Foreign Service also included terms as Deputy Head in charge of European Affairs in the private office of Foreign Minister Kinkel (1993-1997) and Director of the Policy Unit of the High Representative Javier Solana in the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union in Brussels (1999-2005).
