The American Council on Germany and the Atlantik-Brücke convened senior leaders from government, business, finance, and academia on May 10 and 11, 2026, for their annual German-American Conference, “Forging a Future-Ready Alliance: The German-American Partnership Remakes Itself.” Held at Deutsche Bank in New York, the conference explored how the transatlantic partnership can respond to mounting geopolitical, technological, and economic pressures while preserving the shared values and strategic cooperation that underpin the alliance.
At a dinner for conference speakers on Sunday, May 10, ACG and Atlantik-Brücke Board member, and special guests, veteran journalist David E. Sanger – who currently serves as White House and National Security Correspondent for The New York Times – spoke about the foreign and domestic challenges facing the United States.
Through a series of discussions on Monday, conference participants examined the growing intersection of economic security, technological innovation, and geopolitics. Discussions focused on the competitiveness of Western economies, the vulnerabilities created by global dependencies, and the need for closer transatlantic coordination in areas such as artificial intelligence, defense technology, financial systems, semiconductors, and supply-chain resilience. Speakers emphasized that economic and technological decisions increasingly carry geopolitical consequences, making cooperation between the United States and Europe more important than ever.
Ambassador Jens Hanefeld, German Ambassador to the United States, reinforced the enduring importance of the transatlantic relationship, arguing that there is “no substitute” for the partnership between Europe and the United States. He highlighted Germany’s growing defense commitments, including increased investments in military capabilities and defense production, as well as ongoing efforts to reduce regulatory burdens and strengthen economic competitiveness. He also emphasized the continuing importance of deeper cooperation on trade, critical minerals, and research and development.
Speakers included Matthias Berninger, Executive Vice President and Head of Public Affairs, Sustainability and Safety, at Bayer AG; Frances Chang, Vice President of Government Relations, Americas, at Infineon Technologies; Paula Cipierre (2023 McCloy Fellow on Global Trends), Global Head of Privacy at HCLTech; Dr. Sabine Mauderer, Vice President and member of the Executive Board of the Deutsche Bundesbank; James von Moltke, President and member of the Management Board of Deutsche Bank AG; Justin Muzinich, Chief Executive Officer of Muzinich & Co. and former Deputy Secretary of the Treasury; Ana Corina Sosa, Defense and Security Executive at Celonis; and Bundestag members Dr. Norbert Röttgen, Deputy Chairman of the CDU/CSU Parliamentary Group, and Dr. Sebastian Schäfer (Alliance 90/The Greens).
Several panels focused on the increasing role of technology in shaping global power. Discussions on defense innovation and artificial intelligence highlighted how the lines between civilian and military technologies are rapidly blurring. Panelists noted that software, AI, autonomous systems, and advanced manufacturing are transforming both economic competition and modern warfare. Speakers stressed that democracies must innovate more quickly while also ensuring that technological development remains aligned with democratic values, transparency, and accountability.
Economic resilience emerged as another central theme. Participants examined how recent crises – including the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s war against Ukraine, supply-chain disruptions, and tensions with China – have exposed vulnerabilities in global production networks and financial systems. Speakers argued that businesses and governments alike are being forced to rethink decades of globalization that prioritized efficiency and cost reduction above resilience and strategic security. Discussions highlighted the need to diversify supply chains, strengthen domestic industrial capacity, and reduce excessive dependencies in critical sectors such as semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, energy, and critical minerals.
The conference also addressed the future of transatlantic financial cooperation. Panelists explored the resilience of global capital markets, debates over digital currencies and financial regulation, and the role of strategic investment in maintaining technological leadership. While acknowledging policy differences between the United States and Europe, speakers emphasized that the transatlantic financial relationship remains deeply interconnected and that closer coordination will be necessary to compete effectively in an increasingly multipolar global economy.
A recurring theme across all sessions was the need for stronger cooperation between governments and the private sector. Panelists asserted that policymakers, companies, and research institutions need to work more closely together to strengthen innovation ecosystems, modernize infrastructure, and respond to evolving security and economic challenges.
At the same time, speakers stressed that transatlantic cooperation must remain grounded in shared democratic values. Whether discussing AI governance, digital finance, defense technologies, or supply-chain security, participants emphasized the importance of balancing innovation and competitiveness with privacy protections, public trust, and democratic accountability.
The conference concluded that resilience now matters as much as efficiency in shaping the future of the global economy and international security. In a world increasingly defined by strategic competition and technological disruption, participants agreed that sustained transatlantic dialogue, investment, and coordination will remain essential to promoting long-term prosperity, democratic resilience, and global stability.
Dr. Steven E. Sokol, President and CEO of the American Council on Germany, and Julia Friedlander, CEO of the Atlantik-Brücke – both of whom also moderated panels – closed the conference by urging those gathered to continue the conversation begun at the conference.
Read the conference report here.