The Fog of Drone War: Lessons from the U.S. and European Armed Drone Policy
The U.S. government’s turn to a growing fleet of armed drones has spurred an intense political and legal debate in Europe. However, European countries have not objected to the ongoing …
Germany and Europe Stepping Up – Security and Responsibility
Report of the International Security Forum 2018 Are Germany and Europe stepping up to bear more responsibilities in international affairs as the United States withdraws from international leadership? What are …
Frustration in US over Germany’s defense spending shortfall
AICGS President Jeff Rathke tells Michael Knigge in Deutsche Welle, “There is very little understanding in the United States, quite frankly — whether among Republicans or Democrats — for the German government’s …
A Germany Alone?
Those trying to hold the transatlantic relationship together now not only have to contend with the tweets and erratic policies emanating from the White House, but with the actions and …
Episode 08: German and European Security at a Crossroads
As the March 29 deadline for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union approaches, no one knows how it will ultimately turn out. But some lessons are apparent despite the …
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Dazed and Confused: Germany’s Inner Struggle to Mature
This year’s Munich Security Conference (MSC) once again illustrated the stark contrast in world views on matters of international security and defense. While it was to be expected that Western …
Philip Ackermann, AGSR Fellow
AICGS is pleased to welcome Philip Ackermann as an AICGS/GMF Fellow with the American-German Situation Room in Washington, DC, in February 2019. Philip A. Ackermann is a Research Fellow with …
Germany and European Security: Ready to Leave the Comfort Zone Yet?
2019 will be a pivotal year for European security. NATO, the central pillar of Europe’s security architecture to date, turns 70, while the gap between the United States and European …
The German Strategic Debate Gets Serious
As the annual Munich Security conference convenes this weekend, the debate on how Germany and Europe should respond to the Trump administration’s positions on NATO and the European Union (EU) …
Judy Asks: Is NATO Deterrence a Paper Tiger?
Far from it. Deterrence rests on risk calculation and doubt. The costs of challenging the deterrent have to be just high enough to discourage risk taking. While Putin was surprised …
US expected to announce US suspension of landmark INF arms control treaty
On the U.S. suspension of the INF Treaty, AICGS President Jeff Rathke told CNN that Europe is “worried about US withdrawal in particular because it takes the pressure off of …
A European Army: The Wrong Choice for Germany Among Greater Defense Woes
French president Emmanuel Macron’s call for a European army at the beginning of November was met with some justified eye-rolling on both sides of the Atlantic. Chancellor Merkel and defense …
Germany’s Road Ahead: Four Years into the Munich Consensus
It seems that Germany has come a long way since February 2014 when decision-makers proclaimed the “Munich consensus.” In it, then-federal president Joachim Gauck, then-foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier (who has …
Report and Executive Summary: Bonn International Security Forum
From November 18-20, 2018, the Center for International Security and Governance (CISG) of Bonn University and the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies (AICGS) of Johns Hopkins University hosted the …
