Embassy of Germany in Washington, D.C.

Today is #WorldPhilosophyDay. Are you familiar with the concept "Sapere aude"? ?? The idea, which translates to "dare to know" in Latin, comes from 18th-century German philosopher Immanuel Kant. The concept encourages people to think for themselves without relying on others to tell them what to believe. Kant saw this as the essence of the Enlightenment, a period when people began questioning authority and seeking knowledge through reason.? The Goethe-Institut Washington held an essay competition asking high school and college students to explore the concept of Sapere aude today. Participants were encouraged to delve critically into Kant's ideas with a fresh perspective, applying them to modern problems. On Wednesday, the Embassy held an award ceremony and reception for the winners of the competition. Their winning essays examine Kant's call of Sapere aude in entirely new contexts, from social media to competitive sports. Ambassador Michaelis presented the winners their prizes, which included scholarships for Goethe-Institut language courses. Sapere aude is a timeless concept, as relevant today as it was in the 1700s. As high schooler Olivia?Dogan wrote in her essay, "This is how I can navigate the complexities of today’s information-rich environment while staying true to myself." This essay contest demonstrates how deeply ingrained this principle is in both the United States and Germany. Our shared values, like democracy and the pursuit of truth, form the foundation of our strong partnership. ???????? Read the winning essays here: https://lnkd.in/e5j93sfV

After the U.S. election on November 5, Chancellor Scholz congratulated President-elect Donald Trump and emphasized the importance of continuing strong transatlantic ties. “For many decades, Germany and the United States have worked side by side to promote prosperity and freedom on both sides of the Atlantic,” he said, adding that “together with you, I want to continue this successful work for the benefit of our citizens.” While we were all eagerly awaiting the results of the U.S. presidential election, who would have thought that Germany would soon see the end of its three-party coalition government? So, we are in for a transition on both sides of the Atlantic. But as Ambassador Michaelis pointed out: Transitions create opportunities, further cooperation, and new connections. For more on these and other key political developments, both domestic and international, be sure to check out our latest issue of?“Germany for Americans.”

US-German cooperation on apprenticeships has become a cornerstone of our relations – it’s an area of true win-win cooperation. Today, the Science and Technology Section of the Embassy celebrated the German-American Apprenticeship Award, together with the German American Chambers of Commerce. The Chambers have been awarding the best apprentices of US-German companies since 2017, recognizing the outstanding contributions made by companies and honoring outstanding apprenticeship programs. With today’s conference, we are continuing this tradition: Bringing together the German and American apprenticeship and workforce community for an exciting, forward-looking, and thought-provoking debate. The award this year goes to the company Endress+Hauser Group and its apprentice Mr. Kyawnaing Htun. Endress+Hauser is a global leader in measurement instrumentation, services, and solutions for industrial process engineering. They provide optimized processes solutions in terms of economic efficiency, safety, and low environmental impact. They have been operating an apprenticeship program for Advanced Manufacturing Technicians and Mechatronics Technicians since 2018, starting with two apprentices and now with 12 current apprentices and 11 graduates. Congratulations!

Today marks 1000 days of war in Ukraine. On February 24, 2022, the world watched in horror as Russia invaded Ukraine in an unprecedented act of aggression. "For almost 1000 days now, Putin's war has been shaking the everyday life of Ukrainians to the core—yet not their courage and their hope of a life in safety in a free Ukraine," German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said during her last visit in Kyiv. Germany has remained unwavering in its support for Ukraine. We are the second-largest donor of humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine, providing nearly 40 billion USD since 2022. And we have significantly increased our defense investments, reaching 2.12% of our GDP in 2024. These contributions, like dedicating a 100 billion EUR fund to modernizing military hardware and stationing a permanent brigade in Lithuania by 2027, reinforce Germany's role within NATO and bolster European security. Germany stands with #Ukraine.

Now is the time to put Europe's #security and defense on an even stronger footing. "We are determined to stand united with our European and transatlantic partners to think and act big on European security", the Foreign Ministers of ???????????????????????? said in a joint declaration. The Foreign Ministers considered it imperative, among other, to ?? strengthen NATO by stepping up our security and defence expenditure, in line with our previous commitments, while reaffirming that, in many cases, expenditure beyond 2% of GDP will be needed to address rising threats to security and meet the requirements to deter and defend across all domains in the Euro-Atlantic area; ?? strengthen Europe’s security and defence, using all levers available to us, including the economic and financing power of the European Union and by reinforcing Europe’s industrial base. To this aim, we will build on the work in NATO, the European Union, among groups of Allies and with likeminded countries, discuss innovative financing, and remove obstacles to defence trade and investment; ?? invest in our critical military capabilities, including air defence, deep precision strikes, drones and integrated logistics, as well as in critical infrastructure and cyber defence, while investing in research and development, and using new technologies. Find out more here: https://ow.ly/F6kA50Ua2UN

How will US policy on China change in the months and years to come? How will Germany and Europe need to adapt to a potential new approach on China? What do these shifts mean for the geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific, as well as for economic security on both sides of the Atlantic? These are some of the questions we will be addressing at an event the German Embassy is organizing together with the Atlantic Council later this week. We are bringing together high-level experts from the US and Germany to discuss what common, strategic objectives are when it comes to China policy, and how we might strive towards compatibility of individual instruments and policies when our interests don't completely align. Please join us either virtually or in person this Friday (11/22). In-person attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a non-public, expert roundtable before the official program begins. Find more information and register here: https://ow.ly/NGQ350U9nPE

The United Nations Climate Change Conference #COP29 in Azerbaijan is in full swing. High on the COP29 agenda are updates on the implementation of last year's decisions and a new approach to global climate finance. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock emphasized the urgency of achieving global climate goals to secure our future: "The climate crisis is the greatest security challenge of our age." With stronger international cooperation, German leaders aim to make the 1.5°C target achievable, an important climate objective and critical threshold to avoid the most catastrophic impacts of climate change. They have also voiced their commitment to supporting a just transition to climate neutrality while addressing the triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. One essential aspect of this is a new approach to global climate finance: a plea for contributions from everyone who can afford it—traditional industrialized nations, other states with sufficient economic strength, and the private sector. At?COP28?in Dubai last year, the international community agreed to a set of climate goals to reach by 2030. A gradual transition away from fossil fuels and an increase of three times the global renewable energy capacity were two key targets.?How are things coming along in 2024? Nearly one third of the world's electricity currently comes from renewable sources. In Germany, over half of the electricity is now produced from wind and solar power. This shows us that a tripling of global renewable energies by 2030 is possible.? The global energy transition is progressing faster than ever before. We rely on close partnerships in this context—and there is great opportunity for economic growth and innovation with countries like the United States along the way. Germany is committed to contributing to the fight against climate change and will remain a steadfast partner.

Germany has passed a resolution to protect and uplift Jewish lives. The motion underlines the need for measures to address the recent rise in antisemitism in Germany and around the world: "Since Hamas's cruel terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, we have seen hatred of Jews and Israel-related antisemitism in Germany at a level not seen for decades. The increase in antisemitic attitudes and actions is deeply worrying." Key actions of the initiative include adhering to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism and prohibiting state support for groups that promote antisemitic ideas. By the end of 2024, the federal government will invest one billion EUR in combating antisemitic groups through police training and social media campaigns against disinformation. Germany also takes accountability for its historical responsibility by making individual reparations to Holocaust survivors, totaling 83 billion EUR as of 2023. Additionally, Germany continues significant efforts to preserve Holocaust remembrance and provide education on tolerance and humanity. Germany acknowledges its unshakable and everlasting responsibility for the Holocaust. This moral catastrophe is the lowest point in German history. Against the backdrop of the murder of six million European Jews, Germany has a special duty in the fight against antisemitism.?There is no room for antisemitism in our society. We stand against all forms of hatred.

Today, the 2024 UN Climate Change Conference (COP29 Azerbaijan) kicks off in Baku, Azerbaijan. 20,000 representatives of the member states will present their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for 2035. What does Germany have to report? ??Germany's energy transition is well underway, proving that the transformation to a climate-friendly economy is possible in a highly industrialized country. The share of renewable energies is steadily increasing, the coal phase-out is accelerating, and emissions are decreasing. ??Renewable energies are the key to a safe, independent, and sustainable future. They free us from our dependence on fossil fuels and foster peace by preventing climate-related conflicts. Currently, renewable energy accounts for 60% of electricity production in Germany, and Germany is investing in its expansion. ??Germany promotes the development of clean energy markets and invests in innovative technologies, working together with partners like the United States on solutions for a sustainable future. This transformation is creating new opportunities for economic growth and technological innovation—like the creation of millions of jobs worldwide, including in the US. To achieve our climate goals, we must come together. That is why we are sharing our experiences with partners as they embark on their own energy transformations. Germany is committed to global climate protection and has the energy to change. ?? #COP29

Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke to President-elect Donald Trump on the phone to congratulate him on winning the election. It was a constructive first conversation on the issues that lie ahead and a good beginning to the US-German cooperation under the new administration. During the call, Scholz said that he and Trump agreed "to work towards a return to peace in Europe." He also underlined that Germany wants to continue its decades of successful partnership with the United States.