Abstract

In a world marked by increasing geopolitical fragmentation, both Germany and Southeast Asian countries face similar challenges — from navigating US-China tensions to safeguarding economic resilience and promoting a rules-based international order. Yet their approaches to these shared concerns often diverge, shaped by regional contexts, strategic cultures, and institutional alignments.

This joint event by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) and the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) will feature keynote remarks by Prof Dr Volker Perthes, former Director of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), former Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) in Sudan and head of the UN mission in Sudan (UNITAMS). His insights will set the stage for a dialogue bringing together perspectives from both regions for a candid, cross-regional exchange.

About the Speaker

Volker Perthes is one of the most prominent political analysts in German society, media and politics, renowned especially for his extensive expertise in international relations, foreign policy analysis, and Middle Eastern affairs.

From 2005 to 2020, Professor Perthes served as the Chief Executive Officer and Director of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), the premier think-tank providing strategic policy advice to the German government and parliament. In this capacity, he led comprehensive research on international security and foreign policy issues, ensuring a holistic grasp of global affairs.

His academic journey includes a tenure as Assistant Professor at the American University of Beirut (1991–1993), followed by roles as a researcher and head of department at SWP (1992–2005). He also held an adjunct professorship in International Relations at Humboldt University of Berlin (2006–2019). From 2015 to 2018, Prof Perthes served as Senior Adviser to the UN Special Envoy for Syria and chaired the International Syria Support Group’s Ceasefire Taskforce. Subsequently, he was appointed the UN Under Secretary General, Special Representative for Sudan and Head of the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) from 2021 to 2023.

Prof Perthes has extensively analysed the US-China strategic rivalry, its impact on Europe, and the broader international order. His publications, including “Strategic Rivalry between the United States and China: Causes, Trajectories, and Implications for Europe” and “Dimensions of Strategic Rivalry: China, the United States, and Europe’s Place”, examine shifting power structures in global trade and security. His research provides critical insights into how economic competition, technological leadership, and military strategies shape dynamics in Asia, Europe and elsewhere.