Jeffrey Rathke is the President of the American-German Institute at the Johns Hopkins University in Washington, DC.
Prior to joining AGI, Jeff was a senior fellow and deputy director of the Europe Program at CSIS, where his work focused on transatlantic relations and U.S. security and defense policy. Jeff joined CSIS in 2015 from the State Department, after a 24-year career as a Foreign Service Officer, dedicated primarily to U.S. relations with Europe. He was director of the State Department Press Office from 2014 to 2015, briefing the State Department press corps and managing the Department’s engagement with U.S. print and electronic media. Jeff led the political section of the U.S. Embassy in Kuala Lumpur from 2011 to 2014. Prior to that, he was deputy chief of staff to the NATO Secretary General in Brussels. He also served in Berlin as minister-counselor for political affairs (2006–2009), his second tour of duty in Germany. His Washington assignments have included deputy director of the Office of European Security and Political Affairs and duty officer in the White House Situation Room and State Department Operations Center.
Mr. Rathke was a Weinberg Fellow at Princeton University (2003–2004), winning the Master’s in Public Policy Prize. He also served at U.S. Embassies in Dublin, Moscow, and Riga, which he helped open after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Mr. Rathke has been awarded national honors by Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, as well as several State Department awards. He holds an M.P.P. degree from Princeton University and B.A. and B.S. degrees from Cornell University. He speaks German, Russian, and Latvian.
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Episode 52: A Turning Point in Germany’s Policy toward Russia?
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has invaded Ukraine to redraw the post-Cold-War order in Europe. Russia’s aggression has drawn global condemnation and prompted Western governments to impose more severe economic sanctions …
The End of Europe as We Know It?
Germany’s Obligation to Reinforce Europe’s Political-Security Order Just a few days ago in Munich, Western leaders proudly proclaimed their solidarity in the Russia crisis and their resolve to impose massive …
Olaf Scholz in Washington: AGI Expert Analysis in the Media
On February 7, 2022, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz made an official visit to Washington, DC. It was his first since succeeding Angela Merkel in December 2021. Multiple major media outlets …
German Chancellor’s Visit Tests Biden’s Bet on Berlin and Scholz’s Leadership Aspirations
Olaf Scholz’s first visit to the U.S. as German Chancellor February 7 will be a test for the German leader and for his U.S. host, President Joe Biden. At stake …
Episode 51: Why Does Russia Want to Roll Back Europe’s Political and Security Architecture?
On this episode of The Zeitgeist, AGI President Jeff Rathke and AGI Trustee Ambassador John Kornblum discuss the growing threat to European security and the post-Cold War security architecture resulting …
Episode 50: German Interests, a New Coalition, and a Changing World
On this episode of The Zeitgeist, AGI president Jeff Rathke and Senior Fellow and Geoeconomics Program Director Peter Rashish talk with Dr. Josef Joffe about Germany’s foreign and economic policy …
Episode 48: The Future of Germany’s Security and Defense Policy
Germany is essential to transatlantic security, a fact that grows more important with rising security challenges in Europe. Berlin’s allies have long called on the country to play a bigger …
Episode 46: Transatlantic Trade Policy for the Future: Climate, WTO, and China
Trade is one of the most important elements in the transatlantic relationship, and the values of open and fair competition have underpinned efforts by the United States and the European …
Episode 45: Democracy as the Victor in Germany’s Federal Election
The September 26 German federal election marked a notable decline of the traditional big-tent parties (Volksparteien) and significant gains by the Green Party and the liberal Free Democratic Party, who …
Episode 44: Climate Policy and International Economic and Financial Cooperation
Climate policy has become a major issue in German domestic politics and was a key topic for the recent German federal election. All major political parties in Germany included climate …
After the Vote
Political Dynamics as Coalition Negotiations Begin The result of Germany’s September 26 election is inconclusive in the sense that the composition of the next government remains unknown. But the situation …
