Tara Varma joins German Marshall Fund of the United States

Washington, DC – The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) is delighted to announce that Tara Varma will join the organization as managing director of strategic foresight and director of GMF’s Paris office starting January 5, 2026.

Varma joins GMF from the Brookings Institution, where she was a visiting fellow at the Center of the United States and Europe. She was also director of the European Council on Foreign Relations’ Paris office from 2019 to 2022.

Varma is a renowned expert on French and European foreign policy, with a special interest in European strategic engagement in the Indo-Pacific. She brings extensive leadership experience and a strong track record in transatlantic policy, and will play a key role in guiding GMF’s activities in France and in Europe.

Varma will assume the role of Paris office director from Martin Quencez, who will remain with GMF in his new role as senior fellow and special adviser to the president. His work will continue to focus on French and European foreign policy and security.  

“We are pleased to welcome Tara Varma to the GMF Paris team,” said GMF President Dr. Alexandra de Hoop Scheffer. “The addition of Tara and her deep expertise in transatlantic relations, European defense and security, and Europe’s role in Indo-Pacific security is an exciting boon for the entire organization. I could not be more excited to have her on board.”