FEATURED COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

Can the US and Germany finally see eye to eye on China?

Report Nov 10, 2025

France’s policy on China: Strategic autonomy and less naïveté

By Zoltán Fehér

Over the last decade, France’s long-standing engagement with China has transformed into a more nuanced and cautious dynamic, reflecting a growing emphasis on balancing. This shift is guided by France’s pursuit of strategic autonomy, its effort to “de-risk” economic and security ties, and the broader geopolitical realities unfolding in the Indo-Pacific.
China Economy & Business
Can the US and Germany finally see eye to eye on China?

New Atlanticist Aug 28, 2025

Germany wants to double its defense spending. Where should the money go?

By Atlantic Council experts

After decades of Berlin underinvesting in its defense, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has plans to transform the Bundeswehr into Europe’s strongest military. 
Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia
Can the US and Germany finally see eye to eye on China?

New Atlanticist Aug 19, 2025

Europe needs to keep up the momentum for Ukraine after its White House show of force

By Jörn Fleck, James Batchik

Among other steps, European leaders should press forward on defining what security guarantees for Ukraine look like.
European Union France

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Content

New Atlanticist

Sep 3, 2020

Can the US and Germany finally see eye to eye on China?

By Roderick Kefferpütz

After much too long a time, the political climate towards China and Russia is finally starting to change in Berlin. This is an opportunity for the United States and Germany to re-engage and turn Germany from a weak link in the transatlantic alliance to a reliable partner.

China
Germany

In the News

Aug 31, 2020

Busch in The Hill: US cheddar cheese in Europe’s trade mousetrap

By Marc L. Busch

Marc Busch writes that a trade debacle between the US and EU over the word "cheddar" is a symptom of a greater contest in trade relations with third-party states.

Economy & Business
European Union

In the News

Aug 25, 2020

Ambassador Fried Quoted in NY Times on Nord Stream II

By Daniel Fried

Read the full article here.

Economic Sanctions
Germany

In the News

Aug 19, 2020

German politics heats up

By Atlantic Council

For the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies, Atlantic Council Resident Fellow Julian Mueller-Kaler joins AICGS’ Jeff Rathke and Eric Langenbacher for a new episode of the Zeitgeist, to talk about German political dynamics, the Social Democratic Party, and Merkel's ending tenure.

Democratic Transitions
Elections

In the News

Aug 17, 2020

Busch in The Hill: US, UK play chicken over chlorinated chicken

By Marc L. Busch

Marc Busch writes that post-Brexit, the UK should embrace a simple solution on chlorinated chicken regulation to help jump-start a US-UK trade deal.

Economy & Business
European Union

New Atlanticist

Aug 13, 2020

Macron has the power to change the EU’s Hezbollah policy

By Jeremy Stern

Macron’s belief in France’s special responsibility to Lebanon is evident. If he wants to help the people suffering under Hezbollah there, Macron should follow the German example, and lead a ban of Hezbollah at home.

Conflict
France

In the News

Jul 30, 2020

Simakovsky interviewed on VOA News about U.S. massive troop pullout from Germany
Germany
National Security

New Atlanticist

Jul 29, 2020

Experts react: US announces plans for troop withdrawal from Germany

By David A. Wemer

“There may be a strategic case for the withdrawal of almost 12,000 US troops from Germany, but Secretary of Defense Esper’s announcement today does not make it," Daniel Fried says.

Defense Policy
Germany

New Atlanticist

Jul 29, 2020

What hurts NATO the most is not the troop reductions. It’s the divisive approach to Europe.

By Olivier-Rémy Bel

At the end of the day, the strength of the Alliance lies less in the number of troops deployed than in the trust among allies. Rebuilding that trust should be the main task of those who care about transatlantic relations—and the first step might be restoring the predictability of American foreign policy.

Defense Policy
Germany

New Atlanticist

Jul 21, 2020

France must recognize its role in Libya’s plight

By Karim Mezran and Federica Saini Fasanotti

While Paris’s official policy in Libya has supported the United Nations-led negotiations over Libya and the Government of National Accord (GNA) that resulted from them, France’s real policy on the ground has been one of total and full support for Haftar’s forces.

Conflict
France
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Experts

Fellow

Richard Hurowitz

Nonresident senior fellow

Europe Center

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Nik Foster

Nonresident Fellow

Global China Hub

China Energy & Environment

Staff

Torrey Taussig

Director

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Eastern Europe Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Jason C. Moyer

Nonresident Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Europe & Eurasia NATO

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Anna Ascani

Vice President of the Chamber, Italy Chamber of Deputies

Millennium Leadership Program

Central Europe Education

Fellow

Henrique Arevalo Poincot

Visiting Fellow

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Elections Latin America
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