Superwahljahr 2024: Wie bereitet sich die Sicherheitscommunity auf die globalen Wahlen vor?
2024-02-20 18:00 (America/New_York)
Zum 60. Mal kommen bei der Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz hunderte Entscheidungsträger:innen, Meinungsführer:innen und hochrangige Politiker:innen zusammen. Seit dem Terrorangriff der Hamas am 7. Oktober 2023 eskaliert die Lage in Nahost, die Ukraine kämpft weiter um ihre Freiheit und die Wahlen in den USA könnten sie internationale Sicherheitsarchitektur zusätzlich erschüttern. Was lässt sich daraus für die deutsche Sicherheits- und Verteidigungspolitik ableiten? Und wie gut ist Europa auf einen Wechsel im Weißen Haus vorbereitet?
Darüber möchten wir nach der MSC mit
Dr. Jana Puglierin und Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook diskutieren.
Diese Einladung richtet sich an Mitglieder des American Council on Germany und der Freunde American Council on Germany e.V. sowie an Alumni des Young Leaders Conference und andere Programme des ACG. Wir freuen uns, wenn Ihr eine weitere Person mitbringt, die an einer Förderung der transatlantischen Beziehungen interessiert ist.
Wir bitten um Anmeldung bis zum 16.2.204.

What Does the European Election Mean for the Transatlantic Alliance?
2024-06-04 12:30 - 14:30
The ACG and the Friends of the American Council on Germany will host a discussion and reception with Dr. Laura von Daniels, Head of “The Americas” research division at Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, and Sudha David-Wilp, Regional Director of the German Marshall Fund’s Berlin office and a senior fellow.
Nearly 500 million European citizens are heading to the polls in June to select the next wave of politicians to represent them on the European stage. Their votes dictate the makeup of the European Parliament, as well as the top jobs in Brussels’ key institutions. But with some polling indicating a rightward shift in European representation, the ramifications could be felt far beyond the bloc. Relationships with key allies like the United States could be in question and yet are ever-more crucial — with war continuing on Europe’s doorstep and economic uncertainties looming. In this discussion, we unpack what’s at stake for relations between the U.S. and Europe depending on the outcome of the election. Are there certain issues and values where we can expect continuity to remain? And where are the key points where the relationship could fray with a different set of EU leaders engaging with Washington? And what trends could this vote foreshadow for America’s own elections this November?
This invitation is extended to members of the American Council on Germany and Friends of the American Council on Germany e.V., and alumni of the Young Leaders Conference and other ACG programs. We would be delighted if you bring along another person who is interested in promoting transatlantic relations.

44th American-German Young Leaders Conference
2024-07-20 08:00 - 2024-07-25 17:00
The 44th American-German Young Leaders Conference will take place from Saturday, July 20, through Thursday night, July 25, in Berlin, Germany.

The U.S. Elections and the Impact on the Transatlantic Economy
2024-10-14 12:00 - 13:30
In the first session, Isabell Hoffmann, Senior Expert at the Bertelsmann Stiftung and head of eupinions, and U.S. pollster Jeff Liszt will talk about trends in current public opinion survey data in the United States and Europe regarding the candidates and the race for the White House. They will highlight what to watch in the final weeks before the election and the significance of down-ballot races. ACG President Dr. Steven E. Sokol will moderate this panel.
In the second session, U.S.-based strategy consultants, Andrew Frank and Zev Furst, will discuss the policy prescriptions of the two candidates and the impact the election may have on regulatory and political affairs – as well as the impact on the transatlantic economy. They will also talk about how European companies can prepare for the new administration. This panel will be moderated by Anja Wehler-Schöck, Head of International Politics for Der Tagesspiegel.

This event is brought to you by the American Council on Germany in cooperation with KARV and First International, hosted by CMS Hasche Sigle Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten und Steuerberatern mbB, with support from the Freundeskreis des American Council on Germany, e.V. Isabell Hoffmann is Senior Expert at the Bertelsmann Stiftung and head of eupinions, an independent platform for European public opinion which was founded in 2015. As an expert researcher on democracy and legitimacy in the European Union, Ms. Hoffmann has managed research projects on the role of national parliaments in the EU as well as the origins and impact of populism, nationalism and authoritarianism in Europe. She studied political science and economics at the Institut d’études politiques de Paris (Sciences Po). Before joining Bertelsmann Stiftung in 2008, she worked as a political editor for the German weekly newspaper Die Zeit.
Jeffrey Liszt is a partner at Impact Research and has conducted survey research in over 100 countries. He conducted quantitative and qualitative research for the 2008 and 2012 Obama Presidential campaigns and the 2016 Clinton campaign. His political clients include the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, and Democratic Governors Association independent expenditures. Mr. Liszt’s issue-advocacy work has focused on healthcare, climate, conservation, immigration, media rights, development, and education, for clients including the Ford Foundation, Gates Foundation, ADL, and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. His corporate clients include Alphabet, Volkswagen, and Silverstein Properties. He is a two-time Ironman triathlete, and currently lives in Boston with his wife, daughter, and son.
Steven E. Sokol (moderator) has been the President and CEO of the American Council on Germany since 2015. Previously, he served as President and CEO of the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh and prior to that he was the Vice President and Director of Programs at the ACG. Prior to this, Dr. Sokol served as the Deputy Director of the Aspen Institute Berlin, was the Head of the Project Management Department at the Bonn International Center for Conversion GmbH (BICC), and a Program Officer in the Berlin office of the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Dr. Sokol serves on several non-profit boards and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He was awarded a Bundesverdienstkreuz (Order of Merit) for his work to strengthen German-American relations.
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Andrew Frank is the Founder and President of KARV. He is an expert in creating communications strategies particularly focused on difficult situations, overseeing and implementing crisis preparation, public affairs efforts, managing product recalls, financial and/or regulatory issues, and identifying and managing communications issues around complicated litigation. He founded KARV eleven years ago, after working as Managing Partner at Strategy XXI Group and Kreab since 1997. As a political appointee in the Clinton Administration in 1993, Mr. Frank was the Communications Director for the U.S. Information Agency; the White House communications representative for coordination of media during the 1994 GATT signing in Morocco; Deputy Spokesman for the US Delegation to the United Nations World Conference on Human Rights; and the National Security Council media representative in Haiti. He worked on more than two dozen overseas trips of the President and Vice President, including APEC and G-7 Summit Meetings – and worked with more than a dozen federal agencies and cabinet officials. He is the author of Revolution Road Trip, about his work in Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland during their transitions to democracy, in 1990. Mr. Frank was also an ACG Young Leader in 1997.
Zev Furst is the Chairman and CEO of First-Intl, an international corporate and political consulting firm he founded in 1992. He is a leading business, political and communications strategist who has advised political leaders, foreign principals and global CEOs. He specializes in providing strategic counsel on highly sensitive political matters, crisis management, corporate positioning, and personal reputational issues with the unique perspective of someone who has operated at the nexus of business and politics for over thirty years. He has been at the forefront of corporate communications consulting and the use of survey research and data to help guide both political and corporate leaders with their decision-making strategies. Mr. Furst has managed and worked on presidential and congressional campaigns in the United States, as well as elections in France, Germany, Italy, Israel, Mexico, the Palestinian Authority, Ukraine and Japan.
Anja Wehler-Schöck (moderator) has been Head of International Politics at Der Tagesspiegel since August 2022. Prior to that, she worked as editor-in-chief of the IPG Journal, a debate platform for issues of international and European politics. She previously worked as a social affairs officer at the German Embassy in Washington and headed the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung’s office for Jordan and Iraq in Amman from 2012 to 2017.

Silver Economy Forum
2024-10-15 08:00 - 2024-10-16 17:00
Join the Global Coalition on Aging and the American Council on Germany at the 2024 Silver Economy Forum in Berlin, on October 15-16, 2024, and be part of this exciting step to Defining Leadership in an Aging World.
The year 2024 is stacking up to be a pivotal year in what is shaping up to be a memorable decade. The demographic shift of “more old than young” is rapidly accelerating globally. Almost half of the world’s population is headed to the ballot box, including in the United States, the European Union, India, and Indonesia.
On top of that, numerous generations are reaching important milestones as the youngest Baby Boomers reach their sixties, Millennials grow into their forties, and Gen Z-ers storm the workplace. More and more societies realize the 20th-century miracle of long life extending to a hundred as a matter of course and focus on the goal of healthy longevity.
These changes in power and demographics form the background for this year’s Silver Economy Forum, where we look to unpack the elements necessary for Defining Leadership in an Aging World.

Kamingespräch mit Frau Dr. Emily Haber
2025-01-22 12:00 - 13:30
Die American Council on Germany und die Freunde des American Council on Germany veranstalten am 22. Januar 2025 um 18.00 Uhr am CMS ein Kamingespräch mit Dr. Emily Haber, Botschafterin der Bundesrepublik Deutschland in den Vereinigten Staaten (ehem.), moderiert von Dr. Steven E. Sokol, Präsident und CEO des American Council on Germany. Lebensläufe:
Dr. Emily Haber vertrat von 2018 bis 2023 als Botschafterin die Bundesrepublik Deutschland in den USA. Die Diplomatin war die erste Frau in diesem Amt. Sie war Staatssekretärin im Bundesministerium des Innern und Staatssekretärin des Auswärtigen Amtes.
Dr. Steven E. Sokol ist der Präsident und CEO des American Council on Germany. Vorher war er Präsident und CEO des World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh. In seiner früheren Berufslaufbahn war Dr. Sokol stellvertretender Direktor des Aspen Institute Berlin, Leiter der Abteilung Projektmanagement beim Internationalen Konversionszentrum Bonn GmbH (BICC) und Programmbeauftragter im Berliner Büro des German Marshall Fund of the United States.

Understanding the Foreign Policy Priorities of Trump 2.0
2025-02-13 18:00 - 20:00
The American Council on Germany and ZIRNGIBL Rechtsanwälte Partnerschaft mbB will host a discussion and reception in Munich with Dr. Kenneth Weinstein, President Emeritus and Japan Chair, Hudson Institute, and Dr. Anna Sauerbrey, Foreign Editor, Die Zeit. Dr. Kenneth Weinstein served as the President and CEO of Hudson from 2011 through 2020, after joining the institute in 1991. In March 2020, he was nominated by President Trump to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Japan, but his nomination was not confirmed by the Senate before the end of the administration. Widely respected in the diplomatic and policy arenas, Dr. Weinstein has written on international affairs for leading publications in the United States, Europe, and Asia. From 2017 until 2020, Dr. Weinstein chaired the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the oversight body for US Agency for Global Media, and was chair of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, Middle East Broadcasting, and the Open Technology Fund.
Dr. Weinstein earned his B.A. in General Studies in the Humanities from the University of Chicago, D.E.A. in Soviet and Eastern European Studies from Sciences-Po Paris, and Ph.D. in Political Science from Harvard University. Dr. Weinstein has been decorated with a knighthood in Arts and Letters by the French Ministry of Culture and Communication. Dr. Anna Sauerbrey is the Foreign Editor at the German largest weekly newspaper, Die Zeit. Before assuming this position, she was Deputy Editor-in-Chief at Der Tagesspiegel, a daily newspaper based in Berlin. She has written about German politics in The New York Times and comments on German and international politics on public German radio and television programs. She has also appeared on CNN and the BBC world service. She is the author of Machtwechsel. Wie eine neue Politikergeneration das Land verändert (Rowohlt Berlin, 2022) a book on the generation of German policymakers succeeding Angela Merkel.
Dr. Sauerbrey received a Ph.D. in history from the University of Mainz in 2009. She has also studied Political Science and Journalism. She was an Arthur F. Burns Fellow with the Philadelphia Inquirer in 2013 and has extensively written about transatlantic relations and U.S. domestic politics since.

New Governments; New Priorities? The Future of Transatlantic Relations
2025-02-14 02:00 - 03:30
On February 14, the ACG and KPMG AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft will host a breakfast briefing with Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, Retired Commanding General of United States Army Europe, and Dr. Jana Puglierin, Senior Policy Fellow and Head of European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) Berlin. The discussion will be moderated by Ambassador John B. Emerson, former U.S. Ambassador to Germany, Vice Chairman at Capital Group International, and Chairman of the American Council on Germany.

Lieutenant General Ben Hodges served as Commanding General of United States Army Europe from 2014 to 2017 before his retirement from the Army in early 2018. Based in Frankfurt, he is currently a Senior Advisor to Human Rights First. General Hodges has also served in a variety of Joint and Army Staff positions, including Tactics Instructor; Chief of Plans, 2nd Infantry Division, in Korea; Aide-de-Camp to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe; Chief of Staff, XVIII Airborne Corps; Director of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Coordination Cell on the Joint Staff; Chief of Legislative Liaison for the United States Army; and Commander of NATO Allied Land Command (İzmir, Turkey). After his first assignment as an Infantry Lieutenant in Garlstedt, Germany, he commanded Infantry units at the Company, Battalion, and Brigade levels in the 101st Airborne Division, including Command of the First Brigade Combat Team “Bastogne” of the 101st Airborne Division in Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003-2004). His other operational assignments include Chief of Operations for Multi-National Corps – Iraq in Operation Iraqi Freedom (2005-2006) and Director of Operations, Regional Command South, in Kandahar, Afghanistan (2009-2010).
Dr. Jana Puglierin is a Senior Policy Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) and has been the head of its Berlin office since January 2020. She headed the Alfred von Oppenheim Centre for European Policy Studies at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) from December 2015 to December 2019, and was a research fellow with its Berlin Future Forum from September 2013 to November 2015. Before joining DGAP, she worked as an adviser for a member of the Bundestag on disarmament, arms control, and non-proliferation, as well as German and European foreign and security policy.
Ambassador John B. Emerson (moderator) was named Chairman of the American Council on Germany at the Council’s Annual Members Meeting on January 17, 2018. He is Vice Chairman at Capital Group International. Previously, he was the U.S. Ambassador to Germany from 2013 to 2017. In 2015, Ambassador Emerson received the State Department’s Sue M. Cobb Award for Exemplary Diplomatic Service, an award given annually to one non-career Ambassador. In 2017, the Secretary of the Navy and the Director of the CIA awarded him their highest civilian honors for his service.

Post-MSC Readout
2025-02-18 12:00 - 14:00
The American Council on Germany and the Freundeskreis des American Council on Germany will host a discussion and reception with Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook, Executive Vice President and Senior Advisor at the Bertelsmann Stiftung and Benjamin Rohé, CEO and Co-Founder of Monarch, moderated by Sonja Gillert Head of Audio at “Welt.” Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook is Executive Vice President and Senior Advisor at the Bertelsmann Foundation in Berlin. She served previously as CEO of the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP). Ms. Clüver Ashbrook was executive director of the Future of Diplomacy Project at the Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge, Massachusetts 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. Beginning in 2018, Ms. Clüver Ashbrook 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 The Washington Post, as well as leading German media on transatlantic relations – especially trade and security policy – and German foreign and digital policy. Additionally, she advises foreign ministries in Europe and South America on their digital strategy. She received her undergraduate honors degree in international relations and French civilization from Brown University, a master’s degree in European studies from the London School of Economics, and a master’s degree in public administration from the Harvard Kennedy School where she was a Hauser Fellow in Non-Profit Management.
Benjamin Rohé is dedicated to drive transformation and change, with a focus on European digital sovereignty in security, defense, and innovation. After founding his first company at 17, he co-founded as CEO the company MONARCH in 2021, working alongside industry leaders such as Dr. Tom Enders, Gerhard Schindler, Prof. Dr. Stefan Kirsten, James Tucker CMG OBE, and Dr. Sandro Gaycken to tackle security challenges in an evolving world. MONARCH is an official partner of the Munich Security Conference.
With over 25 years of experience, he is a regular speaker at universities and global conferences on corporate innovation, digital change, and resilience. His work has been featured in major publications such as Business Insider, WirtschaftsWoche, Huffington Post, Manager Magazin, and Handelsblatt. Benjamin Rohé is a 2011 ACG young leader and chairman of the ACG Freundeskreis.
Sonja Gillert is the head of audio and podcast host for WELT. Previously, she served as an editor in the paper’s foreign policy department in Berlin. In 2015, she spent three months in China with the Media Ambassador China Germany Program. In 2017 she was selected to attend the two-month Arthur F. Burns Fellowship for Journalists to conduct research in the United States. In 2023, she completed an ACG Kellen Fellowship during which researched the influence of school boards and politics.
Ms. Gillert attended the journalist training program at Axel Springer Academy in Berlin and formerly worked as a freelance journalist at three of Germany’s major radio stations. She studied in Bonn and St. Andrews, Scotland, and earned her MA in Political Science and German Literature in 2009 at Bonn University. She currently sits on the Board of the Freunde des American Council on Germany e.V.

German-American Conference in Berlin
2025-05-12 08:00 - 17:00
“2025 is Pivotal for Transatlantic Relations: New Security Challenges Require a New Security Architecture”
May 8, 2025, marks the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. The end of World War II ushered in a period of relative peace in Europe, global democratization, and economic integration, as well as the establishment of robust international institutions. This was the last time the United States won an armed conflict definitively, and conflict now looks a lot different than it did back then.
Today we face a new security landscape. Land warfare has returned to Europe, faith in longstanding political structures seems to be in retreat, economic protectionism is on the rise, and strong multilateral institutions appear to be relics of the past. Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, China’s coercive economic behavior, and a growing axis of autocratic states raise an essential question for us: What is the meaning of war and peace today? As we see new governments in the United States and Germany and a new European Commission, political leaders will face the task of developing a new strategic identity adapted to the new security environment.
This challenge comes at a pivotal moment for the Western industrialized world: We are confronted both with emerging external threats and struggles within our societies. With the German-American Conference 2025, we provide a platform for strategic discussions about the challenges of a new era in transatlantic relations.

Perspective of a Foreign Correspondent: Political Discourse and Social Cohesion in Germany and the United States
2025-10-16 12:00 - 14:00
The ACG and the Goethe-Institut will host a special Foreign Correspondent Unplugged in Berlin.
The American Council on Germany and the Goethe-Institut invites you to join us for the latest installment in our Foreign Correspondent Unplugged series, which delves into current political debates on both sides of the Atlantic.
In a time of rapid change and complex challenges, journalists play an essential role in informing the public and helping audiences make sense of events at home and abroad. How are current debates in Germany and the United States being covered, and what parallels or contrasts can be drawn between the two countries? Clay Risen, Reporter and Editor at The New York Times (2004 Young Leader), and Dr. Anna Sauerbrey, Foreign Editor at Die Zeit (2018 ACG Kellen Fellow), will share their insights and experiences reporting on both sides of the Atlantic. The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Steven E. Sokol, President of the American Council on Germany. Clay Risen is a Reporter and Editor at The New York Times. He is also the author of Red Scare: Blacklists, McCarthyism, and the Making of Modern America. He reported for the Times from Berlin for the month of May. Mr. Risen has been at The New York Times since 2010. Before writing obituaries, he was a Senior Editor on the 2020 politics team, and before that an Editor on the Opinion desk, most recently as the deputy Op-Ed editor. Before joining the Times, he worked at The New Republic and Democracy: A Journal of Ideas. He has written eight books, some about U.S. history, some about whiskey. They include American Rye and The Crowded Hour: Theodore Roosevelt, the Rough Riders, and the Dawn of the American Century. He holds a degree in International Relations from Georgetown University and a Master’s in Social Science from the University of Chicago.
Dr. Anna Sauerbrey is the Foreign Editor at the German largest weekly newspaper, Die Zeit. Before assuming this position, she was Deputy Editor-in-Chief at Der Tagesspiegel, a daily newspaper based in Berlin. She has written about German politics in The New York Times and comments on German and international politics on public German radio and television programs. She has also appeared on German television and on CNN and the BBC world service. She is the author of Machtwechsel. Wie eine neue Politikergeneration das Land verändert (Rowohlt Berlin, 2022) a book on the generation of German policymakers succeeding Angela Merkel. Dr. Sauerbrey received a Ph.D. in History from the University of Mainz in 2009. She has also studied Political Science and Journalism. She was an Arthur F. Burns Fellow with the Philadelphia Inquirer in 2013 and has extensively written about transatlantic relations and U.S. domestic politics since. She was a ACG Kellen Fellow in 2018.
Dr. Steven E. Sokol (moderator) has been the President and CEO of the American Council on Germany since 2015. Previously, he served as President and CEO of the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh and prior to that he was the Vice President and Director of Programs at the American Council on Germany. Prior to this, Dr. Sokol served as the Deputy Director of the Aspen Institute Berlin, was the Head of the Project Management Department at the Bonn International Center for Conversion GmbH (BICC), and a Program Officer in the Berlin office of the German Marshall Fund of the United States. He holds a Doctorate from Northeastern University as well as an M.A. in International Relations and International Economics from the Johns Hopkins University’s Paul Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and a B.A. from Wesleyan University. He has also studied at the Ruprecht-Karls-Universität in Heidelberg and as a Fulbright Scholar at the Freie Universität in Berlin. Dr. Sokol serves on several non-profit boards and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He was awarded a Bundesverdienstkreuz (Order of Merit) for his work to strengthen German-American relations.

Munich Event: "Must Europe Become More Independent from the United States? If so, how?"
2026-02-11 18:00 - 19:30
The American Council on Germany and ZIRNGIBL Rechtsanwälte Partnerschaft mbB will host a discussion and reception with Simon Book, U.S. Correspondent for DER SPIEGEL (2016 ACG Kellen Fellow) and Robin Quinville, Former Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Germany and Former Director of the Wilson Center’s Global Europe Program.
Simon Book studied at the University of Passau and was trained at the German School of Journalism in Munich. From 2011 he served as an editor at the Financial Times Deutschland and from 2013 on as a reporter at Germany’s business daily Handelsblatt. In 2016, he joined the business weekly WirtschaftsWoche. Since 2020, Mr. Book is with Germany’s leading weekly magazine and news outlet DER SPIEGEL. Initially, he wrote for the economics desk in Berlin, and in October 2023 he took over as DER SPIEGEL’s business correspondent in the United States. In 2016, he received a Kellen Fellowship from the American Council on Germany, during which time he researched transatlantic trade policy. He lives with his wife and his three children in Berkeley, California.
Robin Quinville is the former Director of the Wilson Center’s Global Europe Program. She spent more than 30 years as a U.S. diplomat, having served primarily in Europe – including postings to two multilateral organizations (the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and NATO) and bilateral postings to Cyprus, Bosnia, Greece, the United Kingdom, and Germany. She also spent a year in Baghdad, Iraq. In Washington, she directed the Office of Western European Affairs at the Department of State and served as a Wilson Center State Department Fellow for a year. Her last foreign posting was as the Charge d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Berlin, Germany.

Munich Event: “Allies at a Crossroads? Rethinking Transatlantic Security in a Disrupted World”
2026-02-13 08:00 - 10:00
The American Council on Germany and KPMG AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft will host a breakfast briefing on “Allies at a Crossroads? Rethinking Transatlantic Security in a Disrupted World” with Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, Retired Commanding General of United States Army Europe and Dr. Constanze Stelzenmüller, Director of the Center on the United States and Europe and Fritz Stern Chair on Germany and Transatlantic Relations at The Brookings Institution (1993 ACG Young Leader), moderated by Ambassador John B. Emerson, Former U.S. Ambassador to Germany, Vice Chairman at Capital Group International, and Chairman of the American Council on Germany.
Lieutenant General Ben Hodges served as Commanding General of United States Army Europe from 2014 to 2017 before his retirement from the Army in early 2018. He is a Distinguished Fellow with GLOBSEC and consults for several companies on Europe, NATO, and the European Union. He is co-author of the book Future War and the Defense of Europe. Lt. Gen. Hodges has a regular presence in U.S. and international media, where he offers insight and analysis on NATO, U.S. and European security, the Russian war against Ukraine, the greater Black Sea and Baltic Sea Regions, the Israel-Hamas war, the U.S. Election and its implications for transatlantic security, human rights, and other related geostrategic topics. He most recently served as NATO Senior Mentor for Logistics. Prior to that, he was an Advisor to Human Rights First, a nonprofit, nonpartisan international human rights organization based in the United States. Before joining Human Rights First, Lt. Gen. Hodges held the Pershing Chair in Strategic Studies at the
Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA). Lt. Gen. Hodges graduated from the United States Military Academy in May 1980 and was commissioned in the Infantry. He serves on the Board of the American Council on Germany.
Dr. Constanze Stelzenmüller (1993 ACG Young Leader) is an expert on German, European, and transatlantic foreign and security policy and strategy. She is the Director of the Center on the United States and Europe and the inaugural holder of the Fritz Stern Chair on Germany and Transatlantic Relations at Brookings. She held the Kissinger Chair on Foreign Policy and International Relations at the Library of Congress from October 2019 to March 2020, and served as the inaugural Robert Bosch Senior Fellow at
Brookings from 2014 to 2019. Prior to working at Brookings, Dr. Stelzenmüller was a Senior Transatlantic Fellow with the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF), where she directed the influential Transatlantic Trends survey program. She also managed the “New Power, New Responsibility” project. Her areas of expertise include:
transatlantic relations; German foreign policy; NATO; the European Union’s foreign, security, and defense policy; international law; and human rights. Dr. Stelzenmüller is the former Director of GMF’s Berlin office. From 1994 to 2005, she was Defense and International Security Editor in the political section of the German weekly DIE ZEIT; previously, she had covered human rights issues, war crimes tribunals, and humanitarian crises. She has worked in Germany and the United States, and speaks English, French, German, and Spanish. Dr. Stelzenmüller holds a doctorate in law from the University of Bonn (1992), a master’s degree in public administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University (1988), and a law degree from the University of Bonn (1985).
Ambassador John B. Emerson (moderator) was named Chairman of the American Council on Germany in January 2018. He is Vice Chairman at Capital Group International. Previously, he was the U.S. Ambassador to Germany from 2013 to 2017. In 2015, Ambassador Emerson received the State Department’s Sue M. Cobb Award for Exemplary Diplomatic Service, an award given annually to one non-career Ambassador. In 2017, the Secretary of the Navy and the Director of the CIA awarded him their highest civilian honors for his service. Prior to accepting the ambassadorial posting, John B. Emerson was President of Private Client Services for the Capital Group Companies. Before joining Capital, he was Deputy Assistant to President Clinton where he coordinated his economic conferences, served as the president’s liaison to the nation’s governors, and
led the administration’s efforts to obtain congressional approval of the GATT Uruguay Round Agreement and the extension of China s MFN trading status. Additionally, he was appointed by President Obama to serve on his Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations. Before working in the Clinton White House, he served as Los Angeles Chief Deputy City Attorney and was a partner in the law firm of Manatt, Phelps, Rothenberg, and Phillips.

Berlin Event: "After the MSC: Whither the Transatlantic Partnership in Troubled Times?"
2026-02-17 18:00 - 19:30
The American Council on Germany and the Friends of the American Council on Germany (Freunde des American Council on Germany e.V.) will host a discussion and reception on “After the MSC: Whither the Transatlantic Partnership in Troubled Times?” with Cristina Gonzalez, Executive Producer with POLITICO Europe and Anja Wehler-Schöck, nternational Editor at Der Tagesspiegel on February 17, 2026, 6:00 – 7:30 PM. (Doors open at 5:30 PM; the event will be followed by a reception). To secure your seat, RSVP Here by Friday, February 13.
Cristina Gonzalez is POLITICO Europe’s Executive Producer for events and media partnerships. In this role, she oversees POLITICO’s live journalism in Europe, including its presence at the Munich Security Conference 2026. Prior to this, Ms. Gonzalez was POLITICO Europe’s Executive Producer for audio/podcasts and lobbying reporter. She is also a Professor of Journalism Practice at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB).
Ms. Gonzalez previously worked for Cox Media Group as a Senior Producer for local and nationally-syndicated radio in the United States. She was a Robert Bosch Fellow (2015-2016) at SPIEGEL Online and ZDF Morgenmagazin in Berlin and an ACG Young Leader in 2014. Her reporting, analysis and producing has appeared on/been published in POLITICO Europe, SPIEGEL Online, Deutsche Welle, ZDF, NPR Berlin, WSB Radio, Rare.us.
Ms. Gonzalez holds a MSc degree in Communication Studies: Journalism and Media in Europe from the VUB and a B.A. in Journalism and Political Science from New York University (NYU). She serves on the Board of the Freunde des American Council on Germany e.V.
Anja Wehler-Schöck is the International Editor of the German newspaper Der Tagesspiegel and member of its Editorial Board. In 2022, she founded the paper’s international affairs desk, which she subsequently headed until the end of 2024. Prior to that, she worked as the Editor-in-Chief of the IPG Journal, a debate platform for issues of international and European politics. She previously worked as a social affairs officer at the German Embassy in Washington and headed the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung’s office for Jordan and Iraq in Amman from 2012 to 2017.
Ms. Wehler-Schöck is a frequent commentator on international affairs, European politics, transatlantic relations, and security policy. From 2005 to 2007, she served as Adjunct Lecturer at the Free University of Berlin, Germany. She holds a Master’s Degree in Political Science from Sciences Po in Paris, France and the Free University of Berlin.
Many thanks to CMS Hasche Sigle Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten und Steuerberatern mbB for hosting this event.

Germany Event: “Rethinking Transatlantic Relations: Policy, Practice, and Partnership”
2026-04-20 11:00 - 12:30
The American Council on Germany, in cooperation with 1014 Deutschland e.V. and various American Centers in Germany, will host a speaking tour for former U.S. diplomat Robin Quinville. In five cities, she will engage with local audiences and experts to explore the current state and future of German-American relations amid shifting global dynamics. These events will highlight both the challenges and opportunities facing the transatlantic community today. Each stop will feature a unique discussion – tailored to each community – addressing key themes such as geopolitical change, democratic resilience, and the evolving role of transatlantic cooperation in a complex global order.
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Join us in Mainz on April 20 for a discussion in Mainz on April 20, in which Robin Quinville (Director of the Wilson Center’s Global Europe Program) will explore the challenges and opportunities facing one of the world’s most important bilateral partnerships.
For decades, the strong partnership between the United States and Europe has been built on shared values and mutual trust. Yet, in a time marked by geopolitical tensions, ongoing conflicts, and growing debates about the future of international cooperation and multilateralism, the transatlantic relationship faces both renewed expectations as well as new uncertainties. How are political developments in Washington, Brussels, and Berlin reshaping the alliance? What role will security and trade play in defining the next chapter of transatlantic ties? And how can we navigate disagreements while strengthening our shared interests? What is the role of civil society actors on both sides of the Atlantic and private friendships in fostering a stable relationship?
RSVP HERE to Secure Your Spot!
Robin Quinville is the former Director of the Wilson Center’s Global Europe Program. She spent more than 30 years as a U.S. diplomat, having served primarily in Europe – including postings to two multilateral organizations (the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and NATO) and bilateral postings to Cyprus, Bosnia, Greece, the United Kingdom, and Germany. She also spent a year in Baghdad, Iraq. In Washington, she directed the Office of Western European Affairs at the Department of State and served as a Wilson Center State Department Fellow for a year. Her last foreign posting was as the Charge d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Berlin, Germany.
Ms. Quinville holds a master’s degree in international relations from the University of Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Smith College. She is widely recognized for her expertise in European affairs, alliance politics, and transatlantic cooperation.

Germany Event: “Europe-USA: A Transatlantic Stress Test”
2026-04-21 10:15 - 12:00
The American Council on Germany, in cooperation with 1014 Deutschland e.V. and various American Centers in Germany, will host a speaking tour for former U.S. diplomat Robin Quinville. In five cities, she will engage with local audiences and experts to explore the current state and future of German-American relations amid shifting global dynamics. These events will highlight both the challenges and opportunities facing the transatlantic community today. Each stop will feature a unique discussion – tailored to each community – addressing key themes such as geopolitical change, democratic resilience, and the evolving role of transatlantic cooperation in a complex global order.
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How resilient is the transatlantic partnership in a moment marked by political polarization, the legacy of the Trump presidency, and ongoing international conflicts? What expectations do Europe and the United States now have of one another — and what does a balanced, future‑oriented alliance look like? In this interactive format, Astrid Fellner and Martin Kopf‑Giammanco will take
turns guiding the conversation. Together with Robin Quinville, they will explore how shifting geopolitical priorities, war and crisis diplomacy, and debates over European strategic autonomy are reshaping the foundations of the transatlantic relationship. The discussion will also address the question of how to maintain— or even reinvent — cooperation at a time when the global order is under visible strain.
Click HERE for More Information!
To register, please email anmeldung@dai-saarland.de
Robin Quinville is the former Director of the Wilson Center’s Global Europe Program. She spent more than 30 years as a U.S. diplomat, having served primarily in Europe – including postings to two multilateral organizations (the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and NATO) and bilateral postings to Cyprus, Bosnia, Greece, the United Kingdom, and Germany. She also spent a year in Baghdad, Iraq. In Washington, she directed the Office of Western European Affairs at the Department of State and served as a Wilson Center State Department Fellow for a year. Her last foreign posting was as the Charge d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Berlin, Germany.
Ms. Quinville holds a master’s degree in international relations from the University of Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Smith College. She is widely recognized for her expertise in European affairs, alliance politics, and transatlantic cooperation.
Astrid M. Fellner is Chair of North American Literary and Cultural Studies at Saarland University in Saarbrücken, where she also served as Vice-President for Europe and International Affairs (2013-2017) and Dean of Studies of the Faculty of Humanities (2020-2024). She is Head of the UniGR-Center for Border Studies at Saarland U and co-editor a trilingual Border Glossary, a handbook of key terms in Border Studies. A former member of the BMBF-project “Linking Borderlands,” she has worked on industrial films of the Greater Region SaarLorLux+ and the German/Polish border. She has been involved in a series of projects in Higher Education Management with Ukrainian and Latin American universities.
A graduate of the University of Vienna, she was a Fulbright at UT Austin (1990/91), a Visiting Scholar at UC Irvine (1997) and UMass Amherst (2003- 2005), Adjunct Professor of English at Bradley U in Peoria, IL (2008), and she was Distinguished Austrian Chair at Stanford University (2008/09). A board member of the GAI Saarland since 2010, she has been Managing Director of the GAI Saarland since June 2025.
Martin Kopf-Giammanco is Program Director at the German-American Institute Saarland, where he connects people and ideas through cultural eventsand strategic partnerships. Passionate about building bridges across the Atlantic, he curates programs that foster dialogue, collaboration, and shared appreciation of culture and cuisine between Germany and the United States. When he’s not busy at the Institute, he works as a historical linguist at Saarland University.

Germany Event: “Reinventing Transatlantic Ties? The Future of German-American Relations”
2026-04-22 13:00 - 14:30
The American Council on Germany, in cooperation with 1014 Deutschland e.V. and various American Centers in Germany, will host a speaking tour for former U.S. diplomat Robin Quinville. In five cities, she will engage with local audiences and experts to explore the current state and future of German-American relations amid shifting global dynamics. These events will highlight both the challenges and opportunities facing the transatlantic community today. Each stop will feature a unique discussion – tailored to each community – addressing key themes such as geopolitical change, democratic resilience, and the evolving role of transatlantic cooperation in a complex global order.
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Join us in Stuttgart on April 22 for a discussion with Robin Quinville (Director of the Wilson Center’s Global Europe Program) and Martin Kilgus (United Nations Association of Germany–Baden-Württemberg), as they explore the challenges and opportunities facing one of the world’s most important bilateral partnerships.
For decades, the strong partnership between the United States and Europe has been built on shared values and mutual trust. Yet, in a time marked by geopolitical tensions, ongoing conflicts, and growing debates about the future of international cooperation and multilateralism, the transatlantic relationship faces both renewed expectations as well as new uncertainties. How are political developments in Washington, Brussels, and Berlin reshaping the alliance? What role will security and trade play in defining the next chapter of transatlantic ties? And how can we navigate disagreements while strengthening our shared interests? What is the role of civil society actors on both sides of the Atlantic and private friendships in fostering a stable relationship?
Click HERE for More Information!
To register, please email anmeldung@daz.org
Robin Quinville is the former Director of the Wilson Center’s Global Europe Program. She spent more than 30 years as a U.S. diplomat, having served primarily in Europe – including postings to two multilateral organizations (the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and NATO) and bilateral postings to Cyprus, Bosnia, Greece, the United Kingdom, and Germany. She also spent a year in Baghdad, Iraq. In Washington, she directed the Office of Western European Affairs at the Department of State and served as a Wilson Center State Department Fellow for a year. Her last foreign posting was as the Charge d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Berlin, Germany.
Ms. Quinville holds a master’s degree in international relations from the University of Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Smith College. She is widely recognized for her expertise in European affairs, alliance politics, and transatlantic cooperation.
Dr. Martin Kilgus is chairman of The German Association for Foreign Affairs (DGVN) in Baden-Württemberg and a member of various committees and commissions on European and transatlantic cooperation. Until May 2025, he was a member of the Federal Executive Committee of the DGVN. He studied politics, American studies, international relations, and communication in Stuttgart and Washington, D.C. His main areas of focus are migration and integration in Germany and Europe, European integration and EU enlargement, German-American relations, and municipal and international development cooperation.

Germany Event: “Redefining Soft Power vs Return of the Strong Man – Women in the Diplomatic Service in the US and Germany”
2026-04-23 12:00 - 14:00
The American Council on Germany, in cooperation with 1014 Deutschland e.V. and various American Centers in Germany, will host a speaking tour for former U.S. diplomat Robin Quinville. In five cities, she will engage with local audiences and experts to explore the current state and future of German-American relations amid shifting global dynamics. These events will highlight both the challenges and opportunities facing the transatlantic community today. Each stop will feature a unique discussion – tailored to each community – addressing key themes such as geopolitical change, democratic resilience, and the evolving role of transatlantic cooperation in a complex global order.
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Join us April 23 in Freiburg in conversation with two women with extensive careers as diplomats – representing the US and Germany. Robin Quinville and Dr. Christine Althauser will compare notes on their careers as women in the US-American and the German Foreign Service and also look into the future on how international and especially trans-Atlantic relations are upheld by the Foreign Service. In particular, they will discuss, what women can bring to the table in today’s more challenging negotiation climate.
For 80 years, the transatlantic alliance served as the backbone of a rules-based liberal order. Today, that order is eroding—and the United States is increasingly signaling a move away from the multilateral commitments and institutional leadership that once defined its global role. With Washington adopting a more interest-driven, transactional posture, Europe faces a strategic moment of truth. What does transatlantic cooperation look like when the old assumptions no longer hold? Can Europe become a more autonomous partner—and what kind of global governance model might replace the one now fading?
RSVP HERE to Secure Your Spot!
Robin Quinville is the former Director of the Wilson Center’s Global Europe Program. She spent more than 30 years as a U.S. diplomat, having served primarily in Europe – including postings to two multilateral organizations (the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and NATO) and bilateral postings to Cyprus, Bosnia, Greece, the United Kingdom, and Germany. She also spent a year in Baghdad, Iraq. In Washington, she directed the Office of Western European Affairs at the Department of State and served as a Wilson Center State Department Fellow for a year. Her last foreign posting was as the Charge d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Berlin, Germany.
Ms. Quinville holds a master’s degree in international relations from the University of Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Smith College. She is widely recognized for her expertise in European affairs, alliance politics, and transatlantic cooperation.
Dr. Christine D. Althauser joined the Federal German Foreign Office in 1987, where she began her career in the diplomatic service. After earning her doctorate, she served at the German Embassy in Moscow from 1997 to 2000, served in the Netherlands as well as at the European Council in Strasbourg and was German Ambassador to North Macedonia from 2014 to 2017, as well as Consul General in Shanghai from 2017 to 2021. Today, Dr. Althauser works in international diplomatic training in Berlin and continues to work on issues related to international relations with China, Russia, and Eastern Europe, as well as on questions of European integration, including for the Federal Foreign Office.

Germany Event: “Reimagining the Transatlantic Partnership: What a Strong Europe Means for the United States and Europe”
2026-04-27 18:30 - 20:00
The American Council on Germany, in cooperation with 1014 Deutschland e.V. and various American Centers in Germany, will host a speaking tour for former U.S. diplomat Robin Quinville. In five cities, she will engage with local audiences and experts to explore the current state and future of German-American relations amid shifting global dynamics. These events will highlight both the challenges and opportunities facing the transatlantic community today. Each stop will feature a unique discussion – tailored to each community – addressing key themes such as geopolitical change, democratic resilience, and the evolving role of transatlantic cooperation in a complex global order.
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For 80 years, the transatlantic alliance has served as the backbone of a rules-based international order. Today, that liberal order is eroding – and the United States is increasingly signaling a move away from the multilateral commitments and institutional leadership that once defined its global role. With Washington adopting a more interest-driven, transactional posture, Europe faces a strategic moment of truth. What does trans-Atlantic cooperation look like when the old assumptions no longer hold? Can Europe become a more autonomous partner – and what kind of global governance model might replace the framework that is now fading?
Join us in Berlin April 27 for an event bringing together leading foreign policy experts from both sides of the Atlantic to explore these questions and chart possible paths forward for the trans-Atlantic partnership: Robin Quinville, former Director of the Wilson Center’s Global Europe Program and former Charge d ’Affaires at the U.S. Mission to Germany; and Claudia Major, Senior Vice President, Transatlantic Security at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Moderated by award-winning journalist Vladimir Balzer.
RSVP HERE to Secure Your Spot!
Robin Quinville is the former Director of the Wilson Center’s Global Europe Program. She spent more than 30 years as a U.S. diplomat, having served primarily in Europe – including postings to two multilateral organizations (the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and NATO) and bilateral postings to Cyprus, Bosnia, Greece, the United Kingdom, and Germany. She also spent a year in Baghdad, Iraq. In Washington, she directed the Office of Western European Affairs at the Department of State and served as a Wilson Center State Department Fellow for a year. Her last foreign posting was as the Charge d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Berlin, Germany.
Ms. Quinville holds a master’s degree in international relations from the University of Chicago and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Smith College. She is widely recognized for her expertise in European affairs, alliance politics, and transatlantic cooperation.
Dr. Claudia Major is GMF’s senior vice president overseeing the organization’s transatlantic security and defense work, and an executive team member. Previously, Dr. Major was the director of the International Security Division at the German think tank Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) in Berlin.
Her research, advisory work, and publications focus on German, European and transatlantic security and defense policy, NATO, deterrence and nuclear (dis)order, defense industry, and the Franco-German relationship. Currently, she is particularly focused on the repercussions of Russia’s war against Ukraine for Europe, the transatlantic relationship, and the nuclear order; options to end the war in Ukraine; and ways to ensure the long-term security of Europe and Ukraine.
Dr. Major previously held positions at the Center for Security Studies at the ETH Zurich, the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), the EU Institute for Security Studies (Paris), the NATO Department of the German Foreign Office, and Sciences Po Paris. She was and is a member of various committees, including the Advisory Board for Civilian Crisis Prevention of the German Federal Foreign Office (2010-2024) and the Advisory Board of the Federal Ministry of Defense on “leadership development and civic education” (lnnere Führung) (since 2023). She holds a diploma from the Free University of Berlin and Sciences Po Paris and a PhD from the University of Birmingham (UK).
Vladimir Balzer is an award-winning journalist who grew up in Leipzig and studied in Dublin, Venice, and Leipzig. He began his career as a presenter, reporter, and editor at Deutschlandradio and MDR. Mr. Balzer hosts, among other programs, the daily program “Fazit – Kultur vom Tage” on Deutschlandfunk Kultur. In 2022, he was selected to be a Kellen Fellow by the American Council on Germany. In 2023, he started as a correspondent at Deutschlandfunk’s capital city studio in Berlin. He is known as a commentator for German television, such as ZDF. He also regularly reports for his broadcaster from the U.S.
