American Institute For Contemporary German Studies John Hopkins Univ

GEOECONOMICS PROGRAM In FY25, the Geoeconomics Program focused on economic security, the Draghi report, and the ways the German economic model is changing and how that will interact with the economic policies of the Trump administration and the transatlantic relationship. With the German Marshall Fund of the United States, we held an event on redefining economic security (which took place the day following President Trump s tariff announcement). We continued our cooperation with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation with the fifth annual Transatlantic Trade Week on the topic of economic security. The Geoconomics Program held a February symposium in Frankfurt, which featured two panels on the foreign policy and economic impact of the second Trump administration on transatlantic relations, along with the key international issues at stake in the German election. It also engaged stakeholders in Munich with an event in cooperation with Amerikahaus and the Technical University-Munich, focused on the economic relationship between the U.S. and Europe, particularly economic security and technology issues in the transatlantic relationship.

FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY PROGRAM - In FY25, the Foreign & Security Policy Program focused on German international security commitments and how it is putting its defense Zeitenwende into practice. The program published a report with the U.S. Army War College assessing the implementation of Germany s defense transformation, analyzing changes in Germany s defense strategy, military capabilities, energy transformation, and international relationships since the sea change that Chancellor Scholz announced following Russia s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The report and subsequent conference analyzed the strides Germany has made in its defense policy since the full-scale invasion as well as the gaps that the new grand coalition must address in order to ensure Germany can defend itself from twenty-first century threats. At the Munich Security Conference, AGI hosted its transatlantic breakfast with the American Council on Germany, exploring the ways in which the U.S. and Germany can seek collaboration and manage disagreements as new governments in both countries set their course for the coming years.

SOCIETY, CULTURE AND POLITICS - In FY25, the Society, Culture & Politics Program covered breaking political developments in Germany, the election, and coalition negotiations in articles, podcasts, and events, including a joint event with the Hertie School at AGI offices in Washington and webinars on the election and the new German government; it continues to monitor the new government performance, policies, and personnel. The Understanding the AfD project continues to track far-right politics in Germany, which after the AfD second-place finish has become even more important. The SCP program is also focusing on Germany s memory culture and hosted a conference on Germany s mnemonic Zeitenwende, co-funded by Georgetown University and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). The conference examined how Germany?s approach to Holocaust memory has evolved as new attention is paid to the period of German colonialism. Throughout early 2025, AGI published articles and a podcast from conference participants, continuing to foster debate on Germany s memory landscape. The program continues to mark important milestones in German memory, including the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration in 2025.