Europe’s Strategic Role and the Future of Transatlantic Relations

As part of a public evening event, the Academy, together with AmerikaHaus NRW, hosted a panel discussion with the former foreign policy advisor to the German Chancellor, former German Ambassador to the UN and MSC Director Christoph Heusgen. Drawing on his wealth of experience, he spoke with AIA Director Mayssoun Zein Al Din about the current global situation.

Major disruptive changes such as Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the escalation of violence in the Middle East were discussed, as were more subtle and insidious changes such as the quantitative decline of liberal democracies, the parallel increase in autocratic regimes, and the intensifying geopolitical tensions and growing rivalries between the US, China and Russia. With the second term of US President Donald Trump, after a long period of relative stability, the role of the United States in the world and as a partner of Europe must be reassessed. In this geopolitical climate, Europe in particular has a duty to ensure responsibility, security and stability.

Heusgen called in particular for clear leadership based on its own values and the responsibility that arises from them. The event took place at the Hotel Collegium Leoninum and was attended by over 120 participants.