At the beginning of every new presidency, there is a fundamental foreign policy review. The connection between domestic development and the assumption of global political responsibility, as well as the associated future orientation of the United States, will have profound consequences in terms of alliance and regulatory policy, especially for America's European partners.

Both Germany and the European Union will be confronted with far-reaching political decisions and will have to realign their political instruments and priorities. Transatlantic relations remain high on the political agenda. Against this background, a task force initiated by the Henry Kissinger Professorship analyzed current and future strategic developments in the United States and the resulting challenges for Germany and transatlantic relations until December 2, 2020. In a series of working group meetings with relevant high-ranking experts from academia, business and politics, as well as representatives of U.S. partner institutions, a dialogue process has been initiated on questions concerning the future of transatlantic relations. The task force's report was publicly discussed at the Bonn 2020 International Security Forum on December 2, 2020. The aim of this was to identify future priority topics, new opportunities for cooperation and impetus for economic development.

Based on this report and an ongoing evaluation of transatlantic relations in cooperation with U.S. partner institutions, a new transatlantic focus is to be created at the Henry Kissinger Professorship for Security and Strategy Research. The focus will be on questions of international order and the future development of the state system, in particular the joint analysis of the relationship with China and Russia and the relationship between power and law, as well as topics with special relevance for our federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia.