Germany. America. France.
What is the state of relations among Germany’s most important partners, a year after the inauguration of President Donald Trump and President Emmanuel Macron?
Tuesday, April 17, 7:00 pm
Location: Institut français Berlin, (Kurfürstendamm 211, 10719 Berlin – Salle ‘Boris Vian’)
One year ago, the alumni associations of Columbia University, the Hertie School of Governance and Sciences Po Paris organized the event for the first time. Back then, it was two months after the inauguration of US President Donald Trump and two months before the first round of the presidential elections in France. Many things have happened in the meantime on the German, European and global level. It is time to evaluate and raise the same question: How good are Germany’s relations with its most important partners today?
In terms of America, a key question last year was Germany’s diplomatic ‘access’ to the new administration and President Trump’s remarks on NATO. Whereas security remains a field of cooperation, the Trump administration fundamentally changed its foreign policy in the Middle East by recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The US also withdrew from the Paris climate agreement and the President announced steep corporate tax cuts with tangible results. All this led the German government to start looking for additional partners outside the administration.
Looking at France, it was the right-wing Front National party that hung over last year’s elections like a sword of Damocles. Emmanuel Macron has become the new President. French-German relations have had a long-awaited revival. Together, President Macron wants to push forward the European integration. Both partners also increased their common steps in another part of the world, Africa, by supporting a new anti-terrorism mission of five Sahel countries. At home, the President tries to realize the economic reforms he announced. Can he live up to his promises? Are the renewed French-German relations more than a honeymoon?
And Germany? Unexpectedly, the stronghold of stability has become the point of attention in Europe. The discussion on April 17 could not be timelier.
As last year, our guests will be:
- Jürgen Hardt (Transatlantic Coordinator of the German government)
- Dr. Ronja Kempin (Senior Fellow, SWP – German Institute for International and Security Affairs)
- Melissa Eddy, Berlin Correspondent, The New York Times will host the talk
This event is free of charge. To register, please send an email to: benno.muechler@gmail.com