Since our founding in 1952, we have worked to firmly anchor Germany in the West and foster close ties with North America. This has grown into a broad transatlantic network that promotes cooperation between Germany, Europe, the United States, and Canada across professional and political divides.

We are a private, non-profit organization whose members come from politics, business, academia, the media, and culture on both sides of the Atlantic. New members are admitted through co-option. Sigmar Gabriel serves as Chairman, and Julia Friedlander as Managing Director.

We keep the channel of dialogue between Germany and North America open, even when political circumstances put it under strain.

We bring people together: in strategy sessions, delegation trips, and expert discussions that connect decision-makers from politics, business, academia, the media, and culture on both sides of the Atlantic.

We foster public debate: through conferences, publications, and contributions to discussions on the issues currently shaping the transatlantic relationship — trade, security, technology, and the state of democracies on both sides of the Atlantic.

We invest in the next generation: programs such as the Young Leaders Conference, Young Atlantiks, the New Bridge Program, and the Transatlantic Teachers’ Program bring emerging professionals together and foster personal connections that often last a lifetime.

Our programs for young professionals are built around one idea: Those who meet early on find it easier to engage with one another later. Four programs carry this idea across generations.

Young Leaders: Our oldest and best-known program brings together young professionals and emerging leaders from Germany and the United States for several days, representing politics, business, the media, academia, and the military. Many participants from previous cohorts still have a direct line to contacts across the Atlantic today.

Young Atlantiks: This program is designed as an exchange with Canada and brings together young Germans and Canadians. Its goal is to keep the German-Canadian dialogue going, both among participants and within the broader network.

New Bridge: A program for young professionals whose perspectives have so far been less represented in the transatlantic dialogue, for example due to their background, religion, or migration history. The New Bridge Program gives them access to transatlantic relations, while enabling them to contribute new perspectives and broaden the circle of people shaping these relationships.

Study Trips for Teachers: Teachers from eastern Germany travel to the United States, while American teachers visit Germany. This gives participants the opportunity to experience the other country firsthand and share what they have learned with their students. No other Atlantik-Brücke program reaches as many people indirectly.

We publish two newsletters that alternate monthly. RECAP looks back at recently concluded Atlantik-Brücke events, while INSIGHTS focuses on a current and relevant topic through guest contributions and interviews. Both newsletters are free and open to everyone interested: Sign up for our newsletters

We are also active on LinkedIn and Instagram, and we would be delighted if you followed us there. We also announce publicly accessible events on our social media channels.