To promote discussion on the liberal international order, the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) organized a workshop in Berlin, the first of three in Germany, with government officials and think tank representatives.  Sudha David-Wilp, deputy director of GMF's Berlin office and senior transatlantic fellow, welcomed the guests to the afternoon's event. Ambassador Volker Stanzel, senior advisor for Asia, GMF, and former ambassador of Germany to Japan, introduced Dr. Markus Ederer, state secretary of the Federal Foreign Office, who presented the German perspective in his keynote speech. Dr. Daniel Twining, director and senior fellow of GMF’s Asia program, moderated the panel discussion featuring Dr. David Gordon, senior advisor and former chairman, Eurasia Group, and Ambassador Takahiro Shinyo, vice president of Kwansei Gakuin University and former ambassador of Japan to Germany. Ambassador Nicholas Burns, Roy and Barbara Goodman Family professor of the practice of diplomacy and international relations at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, concluded the workshop with his remarks.

The discussion throughout the afternoon addressed both external and internal challenges to the liberal international order spanning U.S., European, and Japanese perspectives. These included China’s actions and interests and Russia’s annexation of Crimea as well as political developments within Europe, such as Brexit and rising populism, and the domestic issues within the United States. The 2016 U.S. election and foreign policy under a new administration will certainly have implications for the transatlantic relationship and the United States’ role in Southeast Asia. While economic relations remain a significant topic, the group also focused on defense policies as well as the upcoming Warsaw summit and agreement on NATO’s future path. In addition to supporting a strong Japan under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the discussion also favored a stable and capable European Union and a Germany willing to assume greater responsibility.

GMF would like to thank the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan for its support of this project.