I was on a AJC (American Jewish Committee) study visit to Washington from 14.-16.05.2025., where many different meetings on such topics as transatlantic ties, security, and strategic clarity were held.
First 24 hours in Washington: engaged in strategic talks across the board. From think tanks to senior US officials – pushing for clarity, consistency, and credible deterrence.
At the Heritage foundation: We welcomed calls for Europe to step up — but without strategic consistency, even well-meaning pressure misses the mark. Policy must be predictable and coordinated. No time for doubt or mixed signals – especially on China. If the US wants a credible Indo-Pacific strategy, it needs a strong, unified Europe at its side. That includes real cooperation – not just expectations.
At the Hudson Institute:
The discussion focused on deterrence – and what’s holding it back in Europe. The answer isn’t capability. It’s fear. Fear paralyses action. And in a security environment shaped by authoritarian assertiveness, we must shift to a force-based policy language. We also pointed to internal EU actors who, under the guise of “transatlanticism,” obstruct strategic decisions. Despite this, EU member states are mobilizing, rearming, and staying firm on Ukraine. The trajectory is clear—we must keep accelerating.
At the US Department of State: We reinforced key messages.
We reinforced key messages: Ukraine’s NATO path is essential. Economic normalization with Moscow or Minsk is not an option. We questioned the rationale behind recent U.S. positions on the international stage — symbolic gestures are not enough when stakes are existential.
We reiterated: Europe is committed to the transatlantic alliance. But we are equally committed to strategic autonomy. Dependence is not a plan. Coherence is.
More key discussions in DC on security, deterrence, and the shared threat landscape. Strategic clarity is needed more than ever. A few takeaways.
With Dr. Sebastian Gorka: We spoke on terrorism, radicalisation, and violent non-state actors. Europe remains a critical partner in this fight. While the US focuses on internal threats — like radicalised migrant populations — transatlantic cooperation is essential.
And on China: growing consensus — it’s the systemic threat. Even solar tech becomes a vector of strategic dominance. We need a more assertive common approach.
With Republican Brian Mast:
Strong exchange on deterrence. Deterrence by punishment must become more than theory — it needs to drive Western defence posture. We must invest in our security not out of fear, but responsibility. The US security umbrella over Europe isn’t eternal — we must all lead. We warned: if transatlantic unity turns transactional, we risk becoming like our adversaries — who already are hyper-transactional. That’s not a future we wish or should strive for.
With Senator Roger Wicker: Firm alignment — sanctions must hold and expand to enablers, even if they come from within allied states. We discussed the upcoming OSCE PA annual session and how to limit the malign spread of the Kremlin’s influence — including efforts to block visa facilitation to regime-linked. On this, Georgian officials, too, should be on the radar.
With Senator James Lankford, who is a committed transatlanticist.
Emphasised the need to look beyond individuals and focus on the bigger picture — shared values, shared history, and a shared broad vision of the future.
Sometimes we forget how much more unites us. That’s where we must anchor the future of US-EU cooperation.
With TFI (Transatlantic Friends of Israel): A broad discussion covering deterrence, radicalisation, antisemitism, and strategic competition.
We underscored the importance of transatlantic unity grounded in shared values and long-term commitment. Authoritarian threats that test our cohesion.
It’s clear: security, values, and credibility go hand in hand. Coordination — not fragmentation — will define our success.
Meeting with AJC: A strong discussion on the surge in antisemitism from both extremes.
Modern antisemitism isn’t only about targeting Jewish people — it manifests in broader cultural and societal hate and violence.
Thankful to AJC for their partnership and the values we defend together. The West must stand firm — not just in words, but in action.
Special thanks to AJC and the team for organising a truly valuable study visit and facilitating meaningful and necessary dialogue.