“America is back!”
President Joe Biden entered office in January 2021 with a commitment to revive and revitalize relations with allies and partners. This has given hope to the transatlantic community. Over the past year, there have been positive developments – such as rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement, the resolution of bilateral trade disputes, the launch of a new technology and trade initiative as well as a “Futures Forum”, and an international summit to address the challenges to democracy. But, there have also been some irritants to the transatlantic relationship – such as the mishandling of the military withdrawal from Afghanistan, the AUKUS submarine deal, and some divisions over how to handle relations with China.
From the pandemic to climate change to concerns over Russia and China, the United States and Europe face a host of common challenges that are best addressed together. However, some Europeans worry that the United States might not be a reliable partner.
One year into the Biden administration, join the ACG for a discussion about how the United States is perceived from Berlin with Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook, the Director of the German Council on Foreign Relations (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Auswärtige Politik, DGAP), and Dr. Stefan Mair, the Director of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, SWP)
Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook is the Director and CEO of the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) in Berlin. Previously she served as Executive Director of the Future of Diplomacy Project at the Harvard Kennedy School for ten years. The project, which she co-founded, addresses 21st-century foreign policy challenges through research by international leaders in academia and diplomacy as well as teaching conflict research and prevention. Since 2018, Ms. Clüver Ashbrook has also directed a research program on Europe and transatlantic relations. Previously, she served on the management board of the European Policy Centre (EPC) in Brussels and worked as both a consultant and senior journalist at Roland Berger Strategy Consultants in France and China, among other countries. She began her career as a television journalist at CNN International in Atlanta and London.
Ms. Clüver Ashbrook contributes to international publications, such as the New York Times and Washington Post, as well as leading German media on transatlantic relations – especially trade and security policy – and German foreign and digital policy. She also advises foreign ministries in Europe and South America on their digital strategy.
Dr. Stefan Mair has served as Director of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs and Executive Chairman of the Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) since October 1, 2020. He began his career at SWP in 1992, and worked at SWP for 18 years, first as a researcher on Sub-Saharan Africa and later as a member of the Executive Board. From 2002 to 2010, he was a member of the management of the SWP, and from 2007 to 2009, he was the Director of Research. In 2010 Dr. Mair moved from the SWP to the Federation of German Industries (BDI) to serve on the Executive Board, with particular responsibility for international issues.
He studied Political Sciences, Economics, and Sociology at the Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich. From 1989 to 1991 he held a scholarship from the ifo-Institute for Economic Research. He was subsequently awarded his doctorate in Political Sciences by the Ludwig Maximilians University in Munich.
