skip to Main Content

About the Henry A. Kissinger Prize

Since 2007, the American Academy in Berlin has bestowed the annual Henry A. Kissinger Prize upon a renowned American or European figure of international diplomacy, in recognition of his or her outstanding services to the transatlantic relationship. The award honors the achievements of Dr. Henry A. Kissingerauthor, Nobel Peace Prize recipient, and former national security advisor, under President Richard Nixon, and secretary of state under Presidents Nixon and Ford. A towering figure of international diplomacy and US foreign policy, Dr. Kissinger’s initiatives for disarmament and detente in the postwar period helped to create an active dialogue among the world’s leading nations that ultimately resulted in the end of the Cold War and the reunification of Germany. One of the founders of the American Academy in Berlin, Dr. Kissinger served as a co-chairman from December 2010 to November 2011.

The 2022 Henry A. Kissinger Prize is generously underwritten with lead and presenting sponsorship from Bloomberg Philanthropies, Deutsche Bank, Linde plc, and Schmidt Futures; supporting sponsorship is provided by American Express, BASF, Bayer, Cerberus Deutschland Beteiligungsberatung, Deutsche Post DHL Group, Fresenius Kabi, Holtzbrinck Publishing Group, Microsoft, Porsche, PwC, Robert Bosch GmbH, The Brunswick Group, and White & Case.

If you wish to contribute to the Henry A. Kissinger Prize endowment or toward its operational budget, please contact the Academy’s Vice President of Development, Emily Carey, at ec@americanacademy.de, or call +1-212-588 1745.

Recipients of the Henry A. Kissinger Prize

Jens Stoltenberg (2023)

The American Academy in Berlin awarded the 2023 Henry A. Kissinger Prize to Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, on the evening of November 10, 2023, at the Deutsche Telekom Berlin Representative Office. Laudations were delivered by the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and Speaker Emerita of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi. The 2023 Henry A. Kissinger Prize was generously underwritten with lead and presenting sponsorship from Bloomberg Philanthropies and Mercedes-Benz Group AG; supporting sponsorship was provided by Bank of America, Bayer AG, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice LLC, and Microsoft Corporation. Additional funding was provided by Deutsche Bank AG, Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA, and Robert Bosch GmbH.

Read more about the 2023 Kissinger Prize, including full text of speeches, photos, and video of the ceremony.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier (2022)

The American Academy in Berlin awarded the 2022 Henry A. Kissinger Prize to Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of the Federal Republic of Germany, on the evening of November 16, 2022. Usually held in Berlin, the award ceremony took place in New York City for the first time. The laudation was delivered by Condoleezza Rice, former U.S. secretary of state (2005-09), with remarks delivered per video by Henry Kissinger, former U.S. secretary of state and the Academy’s founding chairman.

One of Germany’s longest-serving and most accomplished foreign ministers, President Steinmeier is justly credited with strengthening Germany’s renown as a responsible leader of the international community and a champion of the global rules-based order. Throughout more than three decades of dedicated public life, and despite moments of genuine bilateral disagreement, he has been an unfailing champion of the U.S.-German relationship as an anchor of transatlantic peace and security.

Read more about the 2022 Kissinger Prize, including full texts of speeches, and view a selection of photos from the ceremony.

James N. Mattis (2021)

On November 18, the American Academy in Berlin awarded the 2021 Henry A. Kissinger Prize to General James N. Mattis, former United States Secretary of Defense (2017-2019), Commander of the U.S. Joint Forces Command, and four-star Marine Corps general. The award ceremony took place in the Zeughaushof of the Deutsches Historisches Museum, before an audience of 200 invited guests. Laudations were delivered by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of NATO. Henry Kissinger delivered his remarks by pre-recorded video.

The Henry A. Kissinger Prize, awarded annually to a renowned American or German figure in the field of international diplomacy, recognizes General Mattis for his distinguished service to the government of the United States, the United States military, and foremost, for sustaining global alliances during his tenure as secretary of defense.

Read more and see photos of the award ceremony, or watch the video of the evening.

Photo: Annette Hornischer

Angela Merkel (2020)

On January 21, 2020, the American Academy in Berlin awarded the Henry A. Kissinger Prize to German chancellor Angela Merkel. The award ceremony took place in the Grand Orangery of Charlottenburg Palace with approximately 400 invited guests and press. Remarks were delivered by Dr. Kissinger, former US Secretary of State John Kerry, and, by video message, former US President George W. Bush.

The Henry A. Kissinger Prize, awarded annually to a renowned American or German figure in the field of international diplomacy, recognizes Chancellor Merkel for her outstanding moral and political leadership in her more than three decades of public service, her principled policies for shaping a resilient European Union, and her strong support of the transatlantic alliance.

Read more and see photos of the award ceremony, watch video of the evening, and read Chancellor Merkel’s full speech (in German) on the Bundesregierung website.

Photo: Annette Hornischer

Past Recipients

Back To Top