Why is the German-American relationship so important?

Today, Germany stands at the center of Europe as its most influential leader. Germany is a key partner in U.S. relations across a network of international organizations and security alliances. The economic ties between the two countries are uniquely both wide and deep. As two of the world’s leading trading nations, the United States and Germany share a commitment to an open and expanding world economy. There is no other country with which the U.S. shares a greater mix of interests and values.

In uncertain times like these and probably more than ever before, we need reliable institutions like the American-German Institute, which focus on and strengthen what unites us on both sides of the Atlantic.
– Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany

Seven decades after the end of World War II and a quarter-century after the end of the Cold War, Germany and the U.S. are reliable allies. Yet even as our two governments work closely to confront modern-day challenges together, our general populations still face significant disagreement on issues ranging from Russia to Cybersecurity to Trade. Germany stands at the center of European affairs and is a key partner in U.S. relations with Europeans in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union. U.S. policy toward Germany has traditionally been to preserve and consolidate a close and vital relationship with Germany, not only as friends and trading partner, but also as allies sharing common institutions. The bilateral political, economic, and security relationships are based on close consultation and coordination at every level, and the two countries share a valued partnership.

The world today is in transition, and the ways in which Germany and the U.S. need each other are evolving. We cannot take this relationship for granted, and recognize that the transatlantic dialogue will increasingly be defined by changing equations of shared burdens and responsibilities.

Our research agenda identifies the areas of greatest interest to the German-American relationship, where the two partners can learn from each other, and where they can act together to address global challenges.  This includes: geoeconomics and trade, workforce training, cyber policy, dialogue with China, immigration and integration policies, reconciliation in Europe and Northeast Asia, and fostering the next generation of transatlantic leaders.