Midwest Meets Berlin: Subnational Dialogue and the Future of the Transatlantic Partnership
In light of rising geopolitical tensions, the dismantling of the US democracy and the erratic international trade and economic policies pursued by the second Trump administration, the hybrid expert roundtable will discuss the role of subnational diplomacy as a lever to realign the transatlantic relationship: Which policy areas offer common and shared value to sustain trust-based subnational cooperation? What can transatlantic decision-makers and thought leaders learn from the experiences of US industrial heartlands to strengthen democratic governance, economic security and inclusive growth? What actionable models and strategies exist to advance common foreign, economic, trade and cultural policies at the subnational level?
We are looking forward to an in-depth dialogue between a bipartisan delegation of decision-makers from the US Midwest and leading voices of the transatlantic community in Berlin. Nina Hachigian, former US Special Representative for City and State Diplomacy, will kick off the roundtable with a scene-setting impulse (online) followed by a moderated discussion with selected experts including (in presence):
- Mayor Steve Patterson, City of Athens, Ohio
- Anne Mervenne, President and Founder, Mervenne & Company and former aide to Michigan Governor John Engler
- Rachel Tausendfreund, Senior Research Fellow, USA/Transatlantic Relations at German Council on Foreign Relations
- John Austin, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution and Senior Fellow, Eisenhower Institute at Gettysburg College
The event will be held in English under Chatham House Rules and participants from the US will have the opportunity to join online. The roundtable is followed by a reception with light snacks and drinks.
Times are 18:30–19:45 CEST | 12:30-1:45 pm EDT
Participation is by personal invitation only. For questions, please contact events@progressives-zentrum.org.
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