Connect
What the Young Leaders have to say!
Discover a selection of the most memorable quotes from our current cohort of Young Leaders at the conclusion of the conference in Detroit, Michigan.
... more
2024 Young Atlantiks Program Report
From May 11-15, 2024, ten young Canadian and German professionals, with diverse backgrounds and expertise, met to discuss current and future transatlantic challenges and to attend the 37th German-Canadian Conference in Berlin.
... more
The New Realities of Democracy
The German-American Conference of Atlantik-Brücke and the American Council on Germany took place in April 2024. Especially in the year of the US elections, there were heated discussions and valuable contributions to the debate.
... more
German-Canadian Young Atlantiks Program
Call for Applications: The Young Atlantiks Program promotes the “next generation” of German-Canadian transatlantic partnership.
... more
Engaging in conversations, exploring solutions, forming friendships
This year’s German-American Young Leaders Conference of Atlantik-Brücke was held at Schloss Neuhardenberg in Brandenburg from August 12-18, as the program celebrated its 50th anniversary.
... more
An Abundance of Shared Challenges and Goals
Energy and the environment; innovation and AI, industrial policy and supply chains as well as defense, security and procurement: these were the topics of the German-Canadian Conference 2023.
... more
Global Economic Disruptions and Transatlantic Alliances
The COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and climate change have created huge disruptions – with lasting implications at the global, national, and local levels. At this critical juncture, the American Council on Germany and Atlantik-Brücke convened their annual transatlantic conference in Washington, D.C. to explore the recent economic impacts to the transatlantic partnership – and worldwide.
... more
German-Canadian Young Atlantiks Program
Call for Applications: The Young Atlantiks Program promotes the “next generation” of German-Canadian transatlantic partnership.
... more
“A lot to be hopeful for”
The 2022 Young Leaders convened in Atlanta, Georgia. In their conference report, they reflect on the hard questions they discussed, the solutions they developed, and the hope they have - despite the crises that the world is facing.
... more
German-American Young Leaders Conference 2020-2021
Up and coming leaders from Germany and the United States came together for a week at Schloss Neuhardenberg in Brandenburg, Germany. After a year and a half of social distancing, this Young Leaders conference felt truly special.
... more
“Allies, allies, allies”
General James Mattis, United States Marine Corps (Ret); 26th U.S. Secretary of Defense, spoke at Atlantik-Brücke’s Young Leaders Conference 2021 about what matters most in foreign policy.
... more
“A 1949 Moment”
Ambassador Victoria Nuland, Under Secretary for Political Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, spoke with John B. Emerson, Chairman of the ACG, and Sigmar Gabriel, Chairman of Atlantik-Brücke, about President Biden's recent trip to Europe, the common challenges ahead and the priorities for U.S. foreign policy.
... more
Delegation Trip 2020
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year, we took our members along for a virtual delegation trip to the contested battleground states. Experts and decision makers gave insights into the 2020 election and the role of battleground states such as Michigan and Wisconsin.
... more
Reinventing the German-American Agenda in 2021
Sigmar Gabriel and John Emerson discuss the future of German-American relations.
... more
“Changing Demographics: Diversity in the United States and Germany”
Our panel on changing demographics discussed the challenges and opportunities a changing society presents for transatlantic relations.
... more
American Democracy in Crisis?
Daniel Ziblatt and Donald Wise discuss the state of American democracy and the impact of polarization.
... more
The Republican Strategy for November
This fall's elections will determine whether US politics will be about socio-economic issues or identity politics, writes Mike Gonzalez of the Heritage Foundation.
... more
“Did We Miss the Warning Signals?“
Ambassador Boris Ruge and Professor Gregory F. Treverton discuss with Dr. Constanze Stelzenmüller whether we could have anticipated this pandemic.
... more
Global Order in Crisis Mode – Coping Strategies of the West
Ambassador Victoria Nuland and Omid Nouripour, Member of the German Bundestag, discuss the crisis management of the West.
... more
Finding Europe’s Way in the World
Sigmar Gabriel and Michael Hüther argue that the global balance of power is shifting rapidly. Europe must now find its own way to promote cooperation among Western partners.
... more
Passing storm or tectonic shift?
Forty-five Young Leaders from the United States and Germany came together for a week of deep engagement on transatlantic issues in Queenstown, MD. On a political level, this year’s cross-sectoral group of young decision-makers observed a more volatile transatlantic relationship. In times of rising nationalism and populism in both countries, the issues at stake were emotional, debates heated. Nonetheless, the bonds forged show just how strong our transatlantic connection remains.
... more
In conversation with true Atlanticists Friedrich Merz and Ambassador John Emerson
Atlantik-Brücke’s Chairman and the former U.S. Ambassador to Germany and current Chairman of the American Council on Germany look back and ahead.
... more
A signal of closeness from Canada
Atlantik-Brücke’s German-Canadian-Conference underscored the importance of the relationship between both countries for global questions of our time.
... more
Time to Realign with the United States
True multilateralism can only gain momentum with the combined strength of Europe and the USA, writes our columnist Peter Rough, Fellow at the Hudson Institute. He argues that the transatlantic project needs new dedication.
... more
Why the Timing is Right for a EU-US Summit this Spring
Rick Minor argues that Jean-Claude Juncker could help stabilize the EU-US working relationship by initiating a summit before the end of his term as President of the EU Commission.
... more
Chrystia Freeland: „Let’s not underestimate our collective power“
In her acceptance speech for Atlantik-Brücke's Warburg-Award, Chrystia Freeland emphasized how important it is for Canada and Germany to stand up for multilateralism - especially in times of growing nationalism.
... more
The EU’s response to Russia must be bold and unanimous
Norbert Röttgen argues that in light of the recent conflict in the Kerch strait, Europe should prepare itself for further Russian aggression and react boldly and with one voice.
... more
Minister Freeland honored with Warburg Award
Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland was presented with the Eric M. Warburg Award by Atlantik-Brücke in recognition of her strong commitment to CETA, the trade agreement between Canada and the EU. She is the first Canadian to receive the Warburg Award.
... more
Split governance: what to anticipate from the US midterm elections
America’s economy is skyrocketing under the administration of president Trump. Despite current trends, historical reasons indicate an open outcome in the upcoming elections.
... more
The media is its own worst enemy
President Trump regularly attacks the media. By going into counter-attack-mode, the press has reinforced the impression of a mainstream media bias, argues Peter Rough.
... more
“A wake-up call”
At Schloss Neuhardenberg in Brandenburg, forty-eight young professionals met for the 40th German-American Young Leaders Conference. The discussions were shaped by one overarching topic: In the face of both external and internal pressures, what is the future of the transatlantic partnership?
... more
“Does our model of a free society still have a future?”
Friedrich Merz is interviewed on German television about current EU-US relations and the importance of strong European cooperation.
... more
“Healthy skepticism is a good thing”
Tanit Koch talks about "fake news" and what journalism can do to stay relevant in our interview.
... more
Digitalization of political discourse and its threat to democracy
Andrea Römmele looks at the way social media and digital outlets influence communication, and, in the long run, democracy.
... more
“Germany has to be tougher”
Interview with Edward Luce on reestablishing trust in democratic institutions and transatlantic cooperation in the era of Trump.
... more
Understanding the Russia Investigation
Max Bergman gives insights into the current state of the investigation and expresses his conviction that ultimately, the strength of the U.S.' democratic institutions will prevail.
... more
Lost in Translation
Peter Rough urges Europeans to expand their view of America past their indignation over presidential tweets.
... more
Steel Tariffs are a Distraction from Transatlantic Cooperation on China
Peter Rashish argues that the EU should make a case to the US for tariff exemptions, instead of going to the WTO. The focus of the transatlantic partners should be cooperation on China.
... more
President Trump: One Year Later
By Eric Ham. U.S. President Donald Trump's improbable rise to the White House caught many by surprise. Since taking the oath of office, his Administration has been anything but smooth. Yet through it all, the former real-estate tycoon and reality television star continues to reshape Washington and the geo-political landscape issue-by-issue; challenge-by-challenge; crisis-by-crisis.
... more
The “New South”, New Skills, and Old Alliances
Over the course of six days, the Atlantik-Brücke delegation traveled to the United States and met with a diverse group of politicians, CEOs, journalists, academics, and others, in Charlotte, North Carolina and Washington, DC.
... more
Atlantik Ball 2015
On November 20, the Atlantik-Brücke celebrated the transatlantic partnership with an Atlantik Ball. In her speech, Federal Minister of Defense Dr. Ursula von der Leyen, patron of the ball, reminded the guests of the Paris attacks of the previous Friday. She emphasized that the West will not let anyone take away its culture, its values […]
... more
George H. W. Bush receives Award from Atlantik-Bruecke
Former U.S. President George H. W. Bush Award was the first recipient of the Atlantik-Bruecke Award he lends his name to. He was honored by Atlantik-Bruecke for his contribution to the German Reunification and the friendship between Germany, Europe, and the United States. The award ceremony took place in the evening of August 28, 2015 […]
... more
Award Ceremony for the Eric-M.-Warburg-Prize honoring Dr. Richard von Weizsäcker
On June 4, 2014, the Atlantik-Brücke recognized former Federal President Dr. Richard von Weizsäcker in Berlin for his outstanding commitment to transatlantic relations by awarding him the Eric M. Warburg Prize. Friedrich Merz, Chairman of Atlantik-Brücke, provided the laudation in front of the exclusive circle of guests. He emphasized, “You are a shining example for […]
... more
“Geostrategic Implications of Energy (In)Dependence” – Keynote Speech by Sigmar Gabriel
On October 9, 2014, Vice Chancellor and Federal Minster for Economic Affairs Sigmar Gabriel gave a keynote speech on the geostrategic aspects of energy policy. In light of the current crises in Ukraine and the Middle East, the issue of energy security was highly relevant, Gabriel stressed before 90 members and guests of Atlantik-Brücke. At […]
... more
“Are We Losing One Another?” Talk by Steven Erlanger
On February 12, 2015, around 40 members and guests of Atlantik-Brücke gathered in the Berliner Magnus-Haus for a talk by American journalist Steven Erlanger on the topic of „Are We Losing One Another? US-German Relations in the Era of Snowden, Putin and the Euro Crisis“. Erlanger, who is currently the London bureau chief for the […]
... more
Jeb Bush visits Atlantik-Brücke
On June 10, 2015, the former governor of Florida, Jeb Bush, visited Atlantik-Bruecke. Bush, who announced his presidential bid for the 2016 election on June 15, 2015 in Miami, spoke to a small circle of high-ranking personalities from business and politics about current transatlantic issues. The son of George Bush Senior and the brother of […]
... more
Talk with former World Bank President Zoellick
The free trade agreement TTIP, currently under negotiation between the United States and the European Union, was the topic of a discussion in Berlin on June 9 with Robert B. Zoellick, former President of the World Bank. Zoellick, whose many high ranking positions also included that of United States Deputy Secretary of State and as […]
... more
Carter: The Cold War play book is outdated
U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter has sent out an unmistakable message to the world during his first official visit to Berlin: The play book of the conflict between the East and the West is not compatible with the challenges of the current crisis in Eastern Ukraine, the Democrat said during his speech at Atlantik-Bruecke’s […]
... more
”Strong Europe”: Talk with Lt. General Hodges, Commanding General, US Army Europe
Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, Commanding General, United States Army Europe, spoke about the concept of “Strong Europe“ during a lunch talk in Frankfurt on September 9. “Strong Europe” is the US Army’s concept for strengthening the resilience of its NATO Allies – depsite the reduction of American troops in Europe. Joint European military excercises will […]
... more
1000 guests follow U.S. presidential elections
The election of Republican candidate Donald Trump to the 45th U.S. President has kept the guests of the Election Night quite busy from the evening of November, 8th until the early morning of November, 9th. Along with Bertelsmann, CNN, ntv, Stern, the American Academy in Berlin, the US Embassy in Germany, Google, UDG United Digital […]
... more
„Serving as the U.S. Ambassador to Germany has been the honor of my life“
With a festive dinner, 200 members and guests bid US-Ambassador John B. Emerson farewell on January 18. The Ambassador adressed the guests with a moving farewell speech: “Thank you, Tom Buhrow. And Friedrich, once again thank you for that warm welcome. And I say “once again” because, in addition to the many times you and […]
... more
“Europe matters, this relationship matters” – a conversation with Robert Kagan, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
On the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Atlantik-Brücke held a lunch discussion at Hotel Bayerischer Hof on February 19, 2017. Dr. Robert Kagan, Senior Fellow Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution, spoke on “The Democratic World Order Under Siege”. He expressed concerns that the current world order was coming increasingly under pressure. In his […]
... more
Losing the Bigger Brother – Foreign Policy Discussion
Donald Trump’s presidency is forcing a rethink in Germany of many things that had been taken for granted before. “The big brother, who we could always lean on when we needed to, is no longer there,” observed Dr. Thomas Bagger, the designated Director of Foreign Policy in the Office of the Federal President, on the […]
... more
“Russia is aggressive, Europe apathetic – and the US absent”
When an American journalist and Young Leader alumnus of Atlantik-Brücke pens a book entitled “The End of Europe”, there’s clearly a pressing item on the transatlantic agenda. It was no surprise, then, that around 60 members and guests gathered in Berlin to hear James Kirchick discuss his newest book with Dr. Richard Herzinger, politics and […]
... more
“Partners at eye level”: Farewell for Ambassador Marie Gervais-Vidricaire
“It is easy sometimes for Europeans to forget Canada as our big neighbour provides ample reasons to focus your attention,“ stated Marie Gervais-Vidricaire at her Atlantik-Bruecke farewell dinner on April 24th. But, she continued, Canadians and Europeans are united by a strong foundation of values held in common. These values are an obligation to face […]
... more
U.S. Congressional Staffers in Berlin
On the occasion of a visit by high-level staff members from the U.S. Congress, organized by the U.S. Congressional Study Groups, Atlantik-Brücke was happy to arrange a breakfast discussion with Roman Rochel, Managing Director of “Houzz” in Germany. The delegation learned about the start-up community in Berlin and the city’s unique digital ecosystem. Roman Rochel […]
... more
Schäuble speaking at Atlantik-Brücke annual assembly
200 high-ranking representatives of politics, economy, and the media gathered on June 28 for the annual assembly that marked the 65th anniversary of Atlantik-Brücke. Federal Minister of Finance Dr. Wolfgang Schäuble congratulated and seized the opportunity to talk about current challenges for financial policy, and the necessity for global regulations as well as transatlantic partnership. […]
... more
Congressman: Transatlantic Partnership still a matter of crucial importance
During a dinner-discussion hosted by the Atlantik-Brücke in Berlin, the Democratic Congressman Brendan Boyle assured the importance of the transatlantic partnership. But Boyle, who is a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and has represented Pennsylvania´s 13th Congressional District since 2014, added that this partnership could not be taken for granted anymore. Nevertheless, […]
... more
“Protectionism might lead to an interruption of trade” – Transatlantic Call with David Lipton, First Deputy Manager of the IMF
On the occasion of Atlantik-Brücke’s first Transatlantic Call, Dr. Christian Pfrang, Lex Columnist at the Financial Times in New York, interwieved Dr. David Lipton, First Deputy Managing Director at the International Monetary Fund. During their phone call they talked about the G20 and its new leaders on stage, international growth, the importance of free trade […]
... more
Alec Ross: “Name and Shame the Purveyors of Propaganda”
How can we stop extremist narratives spreading through the internet? Alec Ross argues that social media platforms, too, are responsible for publicly identifying the protagonists of propaganda. Ross, who is currently running for Governor of Maryland, also explains how Germany can prepare itself for Russian cyber attacks on the upcoming general election in this interview […]
... more
“A bridge across the Atlantic, not a wall” – Welcome for the Canadian Ambassador
“We need a bridge across the Atlantic, not a wall “- this is how the new Canadian ambassador Stéphane Dion underlined the importance of German-Canadian relations at a welcome lunch in Berlin. About 23 guests met on September 26 to welcome the new Ambassador and former Minister of Foreign Affairs for Canada, Dion. The ambassador […]
... more
Discussion of the Election Results with the Vice President of the Bundestag
The strong election results of the AfD and the poor results of the big established parties, the Christian Democrats (CDU) and the Social Democrats (SPD), were the main topics of a discussion with Edelgard Bulmahn, Vice-President of the German Bundestag. The 25 Young Leaders alumni attending the event in Berlin on Monday were concerned about […]
... more
XXII Arthur Burns Memorial Lecture
Fundamentals of the German-American partnership were themes of the Arthur Burns Memorial Lecture given by German Federal Minister of Defense Dr. Karl-Theodor Freiherr zu Guttenberg on February 8, 2011. The event, which brought together 250 members and guests of Atlantik-Brücke, was held at the DZ Bank in Frankfurt am Main. Guttenberg’s speech addressed the concern […]
... more
XXIII Arthur Burns Memorial Lecture
Mario Draghi, President of the European Central Bank, joined 180 Atlantik-Brücke members and guests in the Deutsche Bundesbank in Frankfurt on March 27th to deliver the XXIII Arthur Burns Memorial Lecture. His lecture on the ECB’s monetary policy in the context of the global financial crisis continued the tradition of bringing key players in the […]
... more
German-American Conference 2016
On May 23 and 24, Atlantik-Bruecke and the American Council on Germany held their annual German-American Conference. About 170 German and American participants convened at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, where the conference was held under the title “Toward a New Transatlantic Narrative: The German-American Partnership in Turbulent Times.” Speakers included Dr. Thomas […]
... more
Between the Conflict in Ukraine and the Threat of ISIS
The twenty-third expert meeting with the U.S. European Command took place on November 18 in the Magnus-Haus in Berlin. Admiral Mark Ferguson, Commander Allied Joint Force Command Naples, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and U.S. Naval Forces Africa, and Lieutenant General Erhard Bühler, Director Defense Plans & Policy at the German Ministry of Defense, presided over […]
... more
German Canadian Conference 2015 “Foreign and Security Policy”
As the de facto capital of the European Union and NATO, Brussels was the appropriate venue for this year’s German-Canadian Conference on foreign and security policy. From April 15 to 18, challenges arising through terrorism as well as energy security, hybrid warfare and cyber security were discussed. The German and Canadian conference participants from the […]
... more
“Working shoulder to shoulder” – Interview with Canadian Ambassador Stéphane Dion
The Honorable Stéphane Dion, Canadian Ambassador to Germany and Special Envoy to the European Union and Europe, speaks about the German elections, transatlantic cooperation, immigration and integration and CETA. The most pressing issue on the table right now for Germany is the outcome of the elections. What has been the feedback in Canada to the […]
... more
Young Leaders Conference in Santa Cruz and Silicon Valley
Fourty-seven young professionals from the United States and Germany gathered in Santa Cruz, CA, for Atlantik-Bruecke’s 39th German-American Young Leaders Conference this August. The close proximity of Santa Cruz to the Silicon Valley determined many of the conference topics – e.g. discussions about the opportunities and challenges of technical innovation. The group visited companies like […]
... more
German-American Young Leaders Conference 2016
Idyllic Lake Starnberg was once again the setting for Atlantik-Brücke’s Young Leaders conference. This year’s group discussed a broad scope of topics, ranging from the opportunities of digitization to populism in Europe and the US as well as the current state of affairs in Europe. A host of prominent guest speakers joined the Young Leaders: […]
... more
“Society is more open than ever before for completely new ideas”
Interview with Albert Wenger, Partner, Union Square Ventures and Hans Raffauf, Co-Founder & COO, Clue Mr. Wenger, you are originally from Germany, went to the US to study computer science, founded a company and now you are an investor. Is it still necessary today to cross the Atlantic or can someone follow the same path […]
... more
“Is the West Disintegrating?”
In the German daily Handelsblatt, Professor Dr. Michael Hüther, director of the Cologne Institute for Economic Research, and Russell Berman, Walter A. Haas Professor in the Humanities at Stanford University and senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, ask whether the West and its values have chance in the face of growing populism, authoritarianism and isolationism. […]
... more
America and Europe can only succeed together – An appeal for transatlantic cooperation by Atlantik-Bruecke
A shorter version of this appeal was published in the print version of the German daily WELT on February 12, 2017, and on February 15 on »WELT online In his inaugural speech, President Donald Trump emphasized that he does not want to dwell on the past. He only wants to look ahead now. And he feels […]
... more
37th German-American Young Leaders Conference
At the end of July, the 2015 cohort of Atlantik-Brücke Young Leaders came together in Queenstown, Maryland, for an intensive, week-long program under the headline »Managing Change in a Volatile World: A Task for Transatlantic Leaders«. Forty-seven participants with diverse professional backgrounds from Germany and the United States met with high-level guest speakers, exchanged views […]
... more
The Megatrend of Digitization
By Professor Dr. Michael Hüther Digitization is on everyone’s lips, not least because smartphones are in everyone’s hands. Political efforts have been made to tackle the subject and have even led to the development of a digital strategy. Economists, however, view this major trend of structural transformation more cautiously since the great promises and hopes […]
... more
Turkey Should Welcome Kurdish Gains in Northern Syria
by Max Hoffman, Center for American Progress Syrian Kurdish rebel forces fighting under the banner of the People’s Protection Units, or YPG—along with a brigade from the U.S.-backed Free Syrian Army, or FSA, and Assyrian Christian fighters—captured the town of Tel Abyad in northern Syria from Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, or ISIS, last […]
... more
The New North America
By Dr. Michael Werz, Center for American Progress, Washington, D.C. In two months a bridge will be completed connecting San Diego in Southern California to Tijuana, Mexico. At first sight, this may not seem like a big deal – the most important border inspection post in the world withover 150,000 travelers a day has been […]
... more