This monitoring study was written within the framework of the project “IdeenwerkstattDeutsche Außenpolitik,” a process of reflection on the capacity to act in German andEuropeanforeign policy, the underlying conditions for which are undergoing a fundamentaltransformation. In addition to the much-discussed changes to the international systemand increasing great power competition between the United States and China, technologicaldevelopments, new security threats, the consequences of climate change, and socioeconomicupheavals are just some of the developments that will determine the futuretasks and international impact of German foreign policy. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemicposes numerous political, economic, and societal risks and accelerates many existingtrends in the multilateral system with immediate consequences for Germany and theEU. In light of these challenges, the project “Ideenwerkstatt Deutsche Außenpolitik” aimsto put German foreign policy to the test – through evidence-based analyses and interdisciplinarystrategy discussions – and contribute to strengthening Germany’s and the EU’scapacity to act in foreign policy.