Details
In a world marked by increasing geopolitical fragmentation, both Germany and Southeast Asian countries face similar economical and geopolitical challenges.
While China is an important trading partner for Germany and most Southeast Asian countries, there is also growing concern about economic dependencies and strategic ambitions of Beijing in the region.
Donald Trump's presidency has shown how quickly foreign policy priorities can shift. The tariffs he introduced had a direct impact on export-oriented economies such as Germany and countries in Southeast Asia.
Together, Germany and the countries of Southeast Asia must therefore find new ways to strengthen their resilience to global trade conflicts, become more technologically independent and deepen multilateral partnerships. However, their approaches to tackling these common problems often differ and are characterized by regional contexts, strategic cultures and institutional orientations.
Against this background, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung's Regional Programme Political Dialogue Asia together with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) organizes a joint event. The event will open with a keynote speech by Prof. Dr. Volker Perthes. His insights will set the stage for a dialogue bringing together perspectives from both regions for a candid, cross-regional exchange.
About the Speaker
Volker Perthes is one of the most prominent political analysts in German society, media and politics, renowned especially for his extensive expertise in international relations, foreign policy analysis, and Middle Eastern affairs.
From 2005 to 2020, Professor Perthes served as the Chief Executive Officer and Director of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), the premier think-tank providing strategic policy advice to the German government and parliament. In this capacity, he led comprehensive research on international security and foreign policy issues, ensuring a holistic grasp of global affairs.
His academic journey includes a tenure as Assistant Professor at the American University of Beirut (1991–1993), followed by roles as a researcher and head of department at SWP (1992–2005). He also held an adjunct professorship in International Relations at Humboldt University of Berlin (2006–2019). From 2015 to 2018, Prof Perthes served as Senior Adviser to the UN Special Envoy for Syria and chaired the International Syria Support Group's Ceasefire Taskforce. Subsequently, he was appointed the UN Under Secretary General, Special Representative for Sudan and Head of the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) from 2021 to 2023.
Prof Perthes has extensively analysed the US-China strategic rivalry, its impact on Europe, and the broader international order. His publications, including “Strategic Rivalry between the United States and China: Causes, Trajectories, and Implications for Europe” and “Dimensions of Strategic Rivalry: China, the United States, and Europe’s Place”, examine shifting power structures in global trade and security. His research provides critical insights into how economic competition, technological development, and military strategies shape dynamics in Asia, Europe and other parts of the world.