AGI News
AGI at the Munich Security Conference
MSC/Philipp Schulze
The American-German Institute hosted a series of events in Germany during the week of the Munich Security Conference. AGI President Jeff Rathke spoke to the media about the relationship between Europe and the new U.S. administration as well as Vice President JD Vance’s MSC speech.
Press
NPR: European leaders unhappy U.S. and Russia excluding them from conversation on Ukraine
Norddeutscher Rundfunk: Ex-US-Diplomat über Vance-Rede: “Begeben uns in eine neue Ära”
Washington Post: Under Trump, a U.S. that once united Europe now divides it
Zeit Online’s Das Politikteil podcast: Die USA als Gegner? Wie Außenpolitik den Wahlkampf beeinflusst
Christian Science Monitor: More than a rift: Trump aides cast doubt on shared values with Europe
Events
Saturday, February 15, 2025: “Bad Best Friends? Making the German-American Partnership fit for Purpose”
In partnership with the American Council on Germany.
The United States, Germany, and the transatlantic community face shared challenges, from strengthening deterrence and defense to ensuring technological leadership and reliable supply chains in critical sectors. The growing confluence of economic and security concerns means that a comprehensive transatlantic dialogue is essential to forging shared approaches to geopolitical changes. Against the backdrop of a new administration in Washington and federal elections in Germany in February 2025, it may be challenging for both governments to find common ground regarding foreign policy, national security, and economic policy priorities. How can Germany and the United States deepen transatlantic cooperation? And, how can both countries manage their political and economic constraints to sustain the strategic partnership? This discussion is open by invitation to German and American MSC participants and will highlight the opportunities and challenges in the transatlantic relationship.
Speakers:
Jörg Kukies, German Federal Minister of Finance
Joe Wilson, U.S. Representative (R-SC)
Wednesday, February 12, 2025: “Transatlantic Transitions: Trump, the EU, and the Next German Government”
Germany, Europe, and the United States are on the threshold of major transitions. The start of the second Trump administration will have significant consequences for the transatlantic partnership, and the February 2025 Bundestag election will yield a new federal coalition, with a mandate and presumably with a stable majority to govern Germany for the coming four years. With war on the European continent, a changing global economy, and increasing systemic rivalry, the stakes for both of our countries could not be higher. The state of Hesse, with its extreme interconnectedness in Europe, across the global financial architecture, and as a logistical hub for the world, will also play an important role in this regard.
The event was hosted by Citigroup Global Markets Europe AG in Frankfurt. Speakers were Brooks Allen, Partner, Skadden; Laura von Daniels, Head of Research Division “The Americas,” Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (German Institute for International and Security Affairs); Arne Holzhausen, Head of Economic Research’s Insurance, Wealth & ESG, Allianz SE; Penny Naas, Lead, Allied Strategic Competitiveness, German Marshall Fund of the United States; Emily Haber, former German Ambassador to the United States; Leonard Schütte, Senior Researcher, Munich Security Conference; and Jeff Rathke, President, AGI.
AGI President Jeff Rathke spoke at two MSC side events, “Europa hat’s verstanden,” hosted by the Reservist Association of Deutsche Bundeswehr and “Die 61. Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz. Eine Nachbetrachtung,” hosted by the Munich Press Club.
