From July 1-2, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) New York Office welcomed Prof. Dr. Norbert Lammert, Chairman of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and former President of the German Bundestag, for a dialogue program exploring the future of trans-Atlantic relations and rules-based international order. As part of his visit, Prof. Dr. Lammert took part in an exchange with diverse representatives of the United Nations (UN) system, UN Member States, foreign policy community, and financial and cultural sectors during a dinner on “Transatlantic Relations in Flux: Outlook for Strengthened Partnerships Amid Uncertainty,” as well as a meeting with Ian Bremmer, President of the Eurasia Group.
Key takeaways from their discussions include:
- In the last few months, the new U.S. administration—and its “America First” pivot—has set the transatlantic relationship down an unprecedented rocky path. Likewise, its retreat from multilateralism has raised concerns, especially at a time when the United Nations and other multilateral institutions are grappling with dwindling political will and deepening financial troubles. However, debate remains whether this pivot marks a long-term paradigm shift or temporary blip in American foreign policy.
- Europe faces a challenging environment in which U.S. foreign policy has become increasingly unpredictable. Nonetheless, European nations must continue to engage constructively with the U.S. wherever possible, both in bilateral and multilateral settings.
- The moment also presents a unique opportunity for Europe to achieve strategic autonomy and become less reliant on the United States in areas such as security, defense, and technology. In that regard, Europe must forge a united front to defend its interests, including support for Ukraine and the multilateral system.
