Aspen Institute Germany

Aspen Institute Germany Promoting values-based leadership, constructive dialog amongst conflicting parties and Euro-Atlantic cooperation to support & enhance a strong open society

The Aspen Idea

The Aspen Institute Germany promotes values-based leadership, constructive dialog amongst conflicting parties, and Euro-Atlantic cooperation to support and enhance a strong open society. Aspen Germany does this by convening decision-makers and experts from politics, business, academia, media, culture, and civil society in three programs:

- Policy Programs offer a non-partisan conf

idential platform for dialog and analysis to address regional and global challenges and develop mutually acceptable solutions.

- Leadership Programs reflect on values and ideas through the Socratic method to deepen knowledge, broaden perspectives, and enhance participants’ ability to solve the problems they face.
- Public Programs provide a forum for open and constructive dialog between decision-makers and a broader audience on a wide range of current issues. The Aspen Institute Germany was founded in Berlin in 1974. Until today it embodies the idea of transatlantic community and a free and open society. It serves as a non-partisan, non-profit convening platform and is part of the global Aspen network with partners in the U.S., France, Italy, the Czech Republic, Romania, Spain, Japan, India, and Mexico. Together, the Institutes are committed to address the challenges of the 21st century.

Who will be trusted in Europe’s information space ten years from now? Our project „Connecting Futures: Information Integ...
07/09/2026

Who will be trusted in Europe’s information space ten years from now? Our project „Connecting Futures: Information Integrity in Europe’s Next Decade“ opened tonight in Berlin with a welcome dinner and a keynote by Dr. Sonja Kreibich, Officer for Strategic Communication, Auswärtiges Amt, on the importance of information resilience.

For the first time worldwide, social media and video platforms have overtaken news websites and apps as the main way people reach the news, while trust in news has fallen to the lowest level ever recorded. In the EU enlargement region the shift is sharper still: where mainstream outlets are widely perceived as captured or partisan, audiences turn to individual voices they find more relatable.

Over the next two days, our cohort from the EU enlargement region will work through what this means for the decade ahead - in a World Café with platforms and newsrooms, in three foresight workshops, and in exchanges at the Bundespresseamt and the Bundestag. The results will be consolidated into a Scenario Dossier for civil society organisations, media actors, online platforms and policymakers.

Follow for updates from Berlin. Many thanks to the German Federal Foreign Office for making this possible.

In the we celebrate our female participants of the U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture.What challenges do women in ag...
07/09/2026

In the we celebrate our female participants of the U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture.

What challenges do women in agriculture face, and what inspires them on their respective journeys? We asked our participants from the past cohorts to share their experiences.

“Many people have told me that they are surprised that I, as a woman, would want to be involved in agriculture and work the long hours,” shared Courtney Banach, member of the 2024 cohort. It is precisely these assumptions that many women in agriculture spend a long time trying to dismantle.

However, balancing work with other commitments can also be challenging – Marie Saudhof from the 2023 cohort notes that “everyone should know how extensive and modern the work as a farmer is. Balancing life as a young mother and a self-employed farmer is challenging, but it is also deeply fulfilling.”

For young people aspiring to work in agriculture, Annika Thies from our 2024 cohort underlined the importance of emphasizing the excitement and significance of agriculture. When asked what advice she would give to a young girl who dreams of working in agriculture, she said “I would encourage her to see agriculture as an exciting field with the opportunity to make a real difference. By working in agriculture, you have the chance to contribute to solutions that can improve people's lives and help shape the future of our food supply.”

This notion of making a difference and working toward something that is societally significant was a common theme throughout our cohorts. Madhu Khanna from our 2025 cohort notes that “what makes me most proud of my work is knowing that it creates value for others. Seeing my research make a positive difference is especially rewarding.”

For Angela Heinssen, the role of women and the value of working together in agriculture are deeply intertwined: “I have learned that many women in agriculture have a remarkable ability to listen carefully, respect different perspectives and work together towards practical solutions... By bringing together different experiences and viewpoints, we can develop thoughtful and sustainable solutions for the future of agriculture.”

How does intensifying great power competition affect strategic stability? What risks do emerging technologies like cyber...
04/09/2026

How does intensifying great power competition affect strategic stability? What risks do emerging technologies like cyber capabilities, artificial intelligence, and hypersonic weapons pose? And what role can Europe play in sustaining global security?

On September 10, the Aspen Institute Germany in cooperation with the Deutsche Atlantische Gesellschaft e.V. will host the panel discussion “Deterrence in the 21st Century: Nuclear Strategy in an Age of Disruption“ exploring the key questions of nuclear deterrence in an uncertain world.

Together with Julia Franziska Berghofer, Jeanne Dillschneider, Dr. Karl-Heinz Kamp, Philipp Rombach, and Christoph Schmid, we will provide insights into the challenges and limits of nuclear deterrence in the 21st century.

Recent German-Russian diplomatic tensions have come to the forefront of U.S. foreign policy. The G20 meeting of finance ...
03/09/2026

Recent German-Russian diplomatic tensions have come to the forefront of U.S. foreign policy. The G20 meeting of finance ministers in Asheville, North Carolina, this Monday included Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluveno as an unexpected guest. The invitation came at the behest of President Donald Trump, much to the chagrin of European diplomats. The presence of Siluveno was particularly objectionable to German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil due to recent hybrid attacks by Russia against Germany. Klingbeil confronted Siluveno at the meeting over the war against Ukraine and criticized the U.S. invitation as an attempt to normalize relations between Russia and the West.

The following day, the German government stepped forward to formally accuse the Russian state of having orchestrated the attempted drone sabotage at Leipzig airport on August 4 and imposed various punitive measures. On Wednesday, the matter was taken to a transatlantic level during high-level discussions for a coordinated EU-NATO response.
This escalation of tensions between Russia and Germany comes at a time when Germany is pursuing a higher level of leadership within NATO. In an upcoming election slated for September 19th, the alliance members will elect the next chair of NATO’s Military Committee. The candidates are German General Carsten Breuer and Canadian General Marie Annabelle Jennie Carignan. Germany has been actively campaigning in a bid to convince regional allies to support Breuer's nomination.

As the United States contemplates redeployment away from traditional European bases and seeks to encourage other alliance members to take a more active position, Germany’s attempts to take a larger role in European defense has been tacitly supported by the United States. General Breuer has signaled that he would prioritize focusing more on the ongoing Ukraine war, a position that will likely have increased support among European NATO members. However, the inclusion of Siluveno at the G20 summit begs the question what course U.S. foreign policy on Russia will take and whether it will come at the cost of alienating European allies.

03/09/2026

"Emerging Technologies and the Future of Defense" – another perspective from the interview series is out now.

How are emerging technologies transforming security and defense cooperation? Lorenz Lehmhaus, Founder, Defense Valley, Dr. Fabienne Beez, Head of Representative Office Berlin, DEKRA SE, and David Blumberg, Founder & Managing Partner, Blumberg Capital, bring three very different vantage points to some key questions, from venture capital and the defense-startup ecosystem to certification and standards.

Together, their answers trace how fast-moving innovation, from dual-use technologies to new defense-tech ventures, is reshaping what "keeping up" with modern security threats actually requires and who needs to be at the table to make it happen.

Watch the full interview now.

01/09/2026

From AI-enabled warfare to hybrid threats, technology is reshaping what defense readiness actually means. Dr. Sebastian Schäfer, Member of the German Bundestag, Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, Andrea Rotter, Head of Division Foreign and Security Policy, Hanns Seidel Foundation, and Lukas Winkelmann, President, Young Transatlantic Initiative discuss how emerging technologies are transforming security and defense cooperation, what role public-private partnerships should play in strengthening transatlantic security, and where Europe and the United States need to prioritize cooperation on hybrid and technological threats.

A recurring thread throughout: keeping pace with the technological level of modern warfare is no longer optional, it's central to maintaining defense readiness on both sides of the Atlantic.

Watch the full interview now.

To mark the United Nations International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026, we are celebrating the women who have shaped the...
31/08/2026

To mark the United Nations International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026, we are celebrating the women who have shaped the U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture.

What challenges do women in agriculture face, and what inspires them on their respective journeys? We asked our participants from the past cohorts to share their experiences.

Several common themes emerged amongst our attendees, including the importance of self-confidence and dynamism for women working in agriculture, as well as the unseen complexity of agricultural work.

Annika Stange from our 2024 cohort gave a compelling insight into the hidden administrative aspect of farming by noting that her “work is like an iceberg: what’s above the water represents the practical side of things, while what’s underwater is the documentation.” Her “job is to take the burden of paperwork off the farmers' shoulders, while supporting them in getting the best, and most cost-effective, results from what they have or produce.”

On the role of gender in agriculture, Charlotte Schumacher from the 2025 cohort noted that “agriculture requires passion, expertise, and ideas – not a specific gender. That’s why more women should feel encouraged to explore this profession and career for themselves.”

Dr. Courney Archer from the 2026 cohort emphasized the mentorship and guidance: “I am especially proud of the opportunity to mentor students and help them see that they do not need to have grown up with animals to pursue a career in production and animal care. I strive to show them that their contributions, even the small day-to-day tasks, can lead to meaningful improvements in animal welfare.”

Underneath all of it sits one word. As Beth Hodge from our 2024 cohort put it: “Agriculture means community. You can't become a farmer without wanting to feed your neighbors - and being part of something bigger that helps feed the world fills me with immense pride.”

Want to know more about The Aspen Institute’s U.S.-German Forum Future Agriculture? Visit https://www.aspeninstitute.de/de/programme/programmuebersicht/transatlantik-programm/22906-2/ for more information and an overview of our last four exchanges!

From new initiatives to new beginnings, here’s what’s been happening at Aspen Germany:Last week, Aspen Germany explored ...
31/08/2026

From new initiatives to new beginnings, here’s what’s been happening at Aspen Germany:
Last week, Aspen Germany explored the evolving dynamics within BRICS and India’s special role in shaping its future, in cooperation with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom and the Körber Foundation at the event “Challenge for the West: BRICS and India’s Special Role”. With China and Russia seeking to expand their global influence, the grouping has grown significantly beyond its original five members, raising important questions about its ambitions and impact. But how much of a challenge does BRICS really pose to the West and the rules-based international order? A key factor is India, which continues to pursue a strategy of strategic autonomy while maintaining relationships with all major powers. With India holding the current BRICS presidency and preparing to host the upcoming summit in New Delhi, its role in shaping the group’s future is more important than ever. The discussion highlighted the need to better understand India’s strategic choices and the implications they may have for BRICS, the West and the evolving global order.
Aspen Germany is also preparing the next phase of “Connecting Futures: Information Integrity in Europe’s Next Decade,” a project focused on strengthening democratic resilience and information integrity across the EU enlargement region. Bringing together young journalists and digital opinion leaders from ten countries, the project will explore emerging trends and risks, developing scenarios for the decade ahead, and turning these insights into concrete policy recommendations. The upcoming study visit to Berlin will provide opportunities for exchange, networking, and strategic thinking, with a focus on independent media, countering disinformation, and strengthening trust in public communication.
Finally, Aspen Germany is growing its team and is currently looking for motivated program officers and student assistants to support work across transatlantic relations, trade, technology and geopolitics, leadership programs, public programs and membership, finance, digital policy, and European competitiveness.

🌍 How are competing visions and a shifting balance of power reshaping an expanding BRICS and why does India play such a ...
28/08/2026

🌍 How are competing visions and a shifting balance of power reshaping an expanding BRICS and why does India play such a decisive role for the West?

This question was at the heart of yesterday’s event, organized by the in cooperation with the Aspen Institute Germany and .

Pramit Pal Chaudhuri, Head of South Asia at in New York and Distinguished Fellow at the presented the findings of his new paper "Challenge for the West: BRICS and India’s Special Role," and gave an analysis of intra-BRICS dynamics ahead of the New Delhi Summit. During the panel that followed, the author discussed together with Bijan Djir-Sarai, former Secretary General and foreign policy spokesperson of the Free Democratic Party and Toby Chance MP, spokesperson on Trade, Industry and Competition (South Africa), whether an expanded BRICS poses a challenge for the West and the influence of India on BRICS trajectory.

🔎 A central takeaway: BRICS’ recent rounds of expansion have reduced the relative influence of India and Brazil and could strengthen the grouping’s anti-Western camp. This makes India’s current presidency—and the upcoming summit in New Delhi—particularly consequential as the country seeks to preserve BRICS’ geopolitical neutrality, limit Chinese dominance, and maintain close relations with the West.

Many thanks to the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom for taking the lead in organizing this timely discussion and to Körber-Stiftung for the cooperation. We are also grateful to all speakers and guests for the lively exchange.

Photos: © Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit

27/08/2026

"Digital sovereignty" has become one of the defining buzzwords of European tech policy, but what does it actually mean in practice, beyond the slogan?

Nicole Tisdale, Senior Advisor, Aspen Digital, Johannes Steger, Managing Director, Head of Digital Crisis EU, FGS Global, Christian Tracci, Strategy Officer, European Cyber Security Organisation (ECSO), and Shane Tews, Nonresident Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Instituteterprise Institute, unpack what's really at stake: how governments can balance regulation, innovation, and security without one crowding out the others, and where the most urgent cybersecurity and resilience challenges lie for transatlantic partners right now.

Their conversation cuts through the buzzword to the substance underneath, what digital sovereignty actually requires, and why getting the regulation-innovation balance right matters more than ever.

Watch the full interview now.

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