Nearly 50 days into the new government, we are already seeing tensions within the governing coalition over how to address challenges – ranging from pandemic response to tensions with Russia. On January 28, the American Council on Germany, Atlantik-Brücke, and the Los Angeles World Affairs Council & Town Hall hosted a discussion with former U.S. Ambassador to Berlin John B. Emerson and former Federal Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel. The discussion was moderated by Juliane Schäuble, U.S. Correspondent of Der Tagesspiegel.
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.
On January 24, one year into the Biden administration, the ACG hosted 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).
Each week, the ACG hosts a discussion with a journalist based in Germany on the topics making the headlines and shaping political discourse in Berlin. On January 24 the ACG hosted a Kaffeepause with Sonja Gillert, Head of Audio for Die Welt, on the meetings between officials from Germany and Russia, as well as Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Berlin and Ukraine.
On January 21, the ACG and the Hanns-Seidel-Stiftung had a conversation with Markus Blume, Secretary General of Bavaria’s Christian Social Union.
On January 20, 2022, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke in Berlin before members and friends of the American Council on Germany, Atlantik-Brücke e.V., Aspen Institute Germany, and the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Secretary Blinken discussed the transatlantic commitment to the rule of law.