US Consulate Munich

Thank you to Chancellor Merz and our friends in Germany for their swift assistance in caring for Americans affected by the Ebola outbreak. We're grateful for your partnership.

May 8th marks Victory in Europe (V-E) Day, commemorating the unconditional surrender of Nazi Germany in 1945 and the end of World War II in Europe. This week, U.S. Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues Ellen Germain @StateSEHI traveled to Berlin, where she met with German political leaders and Jewish organizations to advance cooperation on Holocaust remembrance, education, and restitution. Her visit underscores the enduring U.S.-Germany partnership built over the 81 years since the war’s end. “These efforts reflect our shared resolve to turn memory into action as we work to ensure that ‘Never Again’ becomes more than words.” — Special Envoy Germain

Behind the scenes part 2: taping a short social media video at the @usbotschaft. Together, the U.S. and Germany will continue to lead on honoring survivors, educating future generations, and ensuring the lessons of the Holocaust guide us toward a more just future.

Meet the 2026 Select Global Women in Tech cohort! 👏 Starting at the #SelectUSASummit, these international women tech founders kicked off a yearlong journey packed with mentorship, collaboration, and connections to scale their tech startups in the US.

$10 trillion invested in the USA 💸🇺🇸 We're open for business! @SelectUSA

Behind the scenes today: I did an interview with Deutsche radio that will air Sunday morning at 11. Listen for discussion of what Victory in Europe Day means to Americans, U.S. liberation of Nazi concentration camps, and why we still need to remember the Holocaust. @usbotschaft

Today: An excellent EVZ (Foundation for Remembrance, Responsibility, & Future) meeting. EVZ's mission is support for elderly survivors of Nazi persecution, plus fighting antisemitism, strengthening democracy, critical & participatory memory, & empowering youth in the above.

Arrived in Berlin and did a double take when I saw this outside the Wittenbergplatz U-Bahn station--which I think is the point. It says "Places of horror we must never forget" & lists concentration & death camps. Commuters see it every day. A reminder not to become indifferent.

It's always good to meet with colleagues Amb. Christina Beinhoff and Amb. Carsten Wilms at the German @AuswaertigesAmt to discuss the U.S.- Germany Dialogue on Holocaust Issues, restitution, and much more. The 🇺🇲🇩🇪 relationship is strong and continuing on these issues!

An honor to welcome the 2026 Capstone officers to Berlin!  This U.S. government mandated experiential-learning course brings recently selected general and flag officers and federal government senior executives across the world to learn the fundamentals of working across the U.S. government and with other countries. The purpose of the course is to broaden the global perspective of each Fellow in order to better prepare them to address national and regional threats and opportunities. #USSecurity @NDU_EDU

Germany’s Military Strategy represents a clear, credible way forward to NATO 3.0: A NATO in which Europe and Canada step up to meet their responsibilities within the Alliance and transform it from a paper tiger to a strong deterrent and defense. President Trump has provided the clear and consistent message Europe and Canada need to hear. We at DoW stand ready to engage and aid those who heed his message and take real action at the speed of relevance. 10/10

Moreover, a “national and European projection capability would strengthen deterrence and collective defense, lighten the burden on the United States and enhance Europe’s ability to take action.” In other words, a stronger Europe will be able to contribute more to critical missions, as the President has emphasized. 9/

“Beyond this reorientation toward the Indo-Pacific, the United States is demanding in its 2026 National Defense Strategy that its allies step up their efforts to safeguard their own security. Germany must therefore become an even stronger military Ally to the United States while working together with other Allies to take on more responsibility for the shared Euro-Atlantic security.” 8/

“The United States is essential to NATO. Both in political terms and due to its military capabilities. However, it has indicated that it is increasingly shifting its strategic focus towards its Western Hemisphere and the Indo-Pacific.” 7/

“Germany is taking on a historically unprecedented amount of responsibility for Europe, and will continue to build on this basis. NATO must become more European to remain transatlantic.” 6/

The Strategy also affirms that “Germany…will take on additional burdens, including targeted strategic responsibility for Europe at the strategic level…The Bundeswehr will thus become the strongest conventional army in Europe.” 5/

General Carsten Breuer wrote in the Strategy’s Foreword that: “The Military Strategy reflects the idea that, as the largest economy in Europe…Germany must and will assume a leading role within NATO – also at the military level. It represents a paradigm shift and underpins our ambition to play an active and substantial role.” 4/

Berlin’s new Military Strategy shows a clear path forward and we look forward to collaborating closely with the FRG to implement this. Below are some key excerpts: 3/

Germany is now taking the leading role in this. After years of disarmament, Berlin is stepping up. The DOW is already working closely with European allies, especially Germany, to accelerate this transition to NATO 3.0. 2/

President Trump has rightly laid out that Europe must step up, and NATO must no longer be a paper tiger. Through the historic Hague Commitments, Europe has begun to do so. But the key now is, in the words of SecGen Rutte, action over words. As Rutte put it this week, “Air defense systems, drones, ammunition, radars, space capabilities — that is what will keep us safe.” 1/