FEATURED COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

Germany’s Military Reform: An American Perspective

New Atlanticist
May 6, 2025

Is Merz’s double-take chancellor vote a sign of things to come in Germany?

By
Jörn Fleck and Jurek Wille

It took two rounds of voting in the Bundestag to elect Friedrich Merz chancellor, a sign of division unprecedented in modern German history.

Defense Policy
Elections

Germany’s Military Reform: An American Perspective

New Atlanticist
Feb 19, 2025

Germany’s economy has gone from engine to anchor. Here’s what the next chancellor faces.

By
Piotr Arak

Revitalizing growth in Germany’s economy, which appears increasingly mired in stagnation, will demand urgent action from the next chancellor.

Economy & Business
Elections

Germany’s Military Reform: An American Perspective

New Atlanticist
Feb 4, 2025

The next German chancellor must lead from the front, not the middle, on European security

By
Rachel Rizzo, James Batchik

From support for Ukraine to defense spending, German leaders would be wise to take the phrase Führung aus der Mitte permanently out of their vocabulary.

Elections
Germany

Events

Public Event
Thu, July 24, 2025 • 8:45 am ET

Germany’s digital minister on Europe’s digital competitiveness

Digital Policy
Economy & Business
Germany

Online Event
Tue, May 6, 2025 • 10:00 am ET

What to expect from Germany’s next government

Elections
Europe & Eurasia
European Union
Germany

Program

The Europe Center promotes the transatlantic leadership and strategies required to ensure a strong Europe.

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New Atlanticist

Nov 22, 2011

Germany’s Military Reform: An American Perspective

By Peter Flory

In the May 2011 German Defense Policy Guidelines (DPG), Germany sets as its goal a force that is capable of “[s]afe guarding national interests, assuming international responsibility, and shaping security together.”  As an American, I would ask no more and no less from our German ally.

Germany

New Atlanticist

Nov 21, 2011

Dead Politics: Europe’s Enemy Within

By Julian Lindley-French

One of the great doyens of nineteenth century British foreign policy Lord Salisbury could turn a phrase or two. Speaking of Britain in the 1870s he may well of been speaking of Europe (and the British bit of it) today when he said “…the commonest error in politics lies in sticking to the carcases of […]

European Union Germany

New Atlanticist

Nov 15, 2011

The Strategic Influence Game 5: A German Europe or a European Germany?

By Julian Lindley-French

Germany has never found the leadership of Europe easy to attain or to execute. And yet Germany today finds itself the unrivalled leader of the European Union. Can Germany for once get leadership right? Only at the very 1871 beginning of modern Germany’s uneasy existence was Berlin led by a man who grasped both the […]

European Union Germany

Event Recap

Nov 10, 2011

Iran Turns to China, Barter to Survive Sanctions

By Adrienne Chuck

On November 10, the Atlantic Council’s Iran Task Force held a public briefing on Iran trade relations. This briefing marks the release of the Council’s fifth issue brief, entitled “Iran Turns to China, Barter to Survive Sanctions,” by senior fellow Barbara Slavin.

China Germany

Event Recap

Oct 6, 2011

What is Germany Thinking? The Future of Europe and the Transatlantic Alliance

By Adrienne Chuck

On October 6th, the Atlantic Council partnered with the Bertelsmann Foundation to host a luncheon discussion on what the citizens of Germany, Europe’s financial powerhouse, want from Europe, what they think about European integration, and how they see their future within the eurozone and the EU. The panel featured Annette Heuser, Executive Director of The […]

European Union Germany

New Atlanticist

Nov 17, 2009

Learning From Germany

By Dave Schuler

I agree with Paul Krugman that we can learn something from Germany:

Germany

New Atlanticist

Nov 13, 2009

Poland’s Path to NATO

By Adam Michnik

Adam Michnik looks at the revolutions that brought about the fall of communism.

Germany NATO

New Atlanticist

Nov 13, 2009

“Tear Down This Wall!”

By Richard Burt

Ambassador Richard Burt reflects on the impact of Ronald Reagan’s 1987 Speech in Berlin.

Germany

New Atlanticist

Nov 12, 2009

Global Threat Analysis: 20 Years after the Fall of the Wall

By Barry McCaffrey

General Barry McCaffrey assesses the dangers that face us today – from the immediate threats posed by terrorist factions to the long-term challenges of climate change.

Germany

New Atlanticist

Nov 10, 2009

Helmut Kohl on the Fall of the Wall and German Reunification

By Helmut Kohl

2009 is a special year for anniversaries. We celebrate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989. Inextricably linked to this, we also celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Federal Republic of Germany on May 23, 1949, and of NATO on April 4, 1949.

Germany
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Nik Foster

Nonresident Fellow

Global China Hub

China Energy & Environment

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Samuel Denney

Nonresident Fellow

Transatlantic Security Initiative

English Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Tyson Barker

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Cybersecurity Digital Policy

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James Batchik

Associate Director

Europe Center

Central Europe Digital Policy

Executive Leadership Intensive participant

Noel Coenraad

Strategy Advisor, Vattenfall AB

Millennium Leadership Program

Energy Transitions Germany

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Hanna Dohmen

Nonresident Fellow

Global China Hub

China Chinese
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