Munich and the Security Conference: It was never great love – Munich

After 60 years, couples celebrate their diamond wedding. But what if one of the partners forgets the relationship anniversary? Worse, what if he doesn’t care? Because there have been all sorts of things over the 60 years, but never true love?

Munich and the security conference that matured from the military science conference to the MSC – that has always been a passionless marriage of convenience. Above all, a very relaxed relationship, at least from the perspective of many Munich residents. The fact that world politics is sometimes made in the heart of the state capital, that – as some claim – the global security architecture is being tweaked and fine-tuned, that sinister arms deals are being arranged in the back rooms – as others suspect -: for free. When the security conference was practically canceled for two years due to Corona, i.e. only took place virtually or on a small scale, hardly anyone noticed.

Since 2023, the political meeting has been back in the city on a massive scale. And with it came the nagging and ranting that began in mid-February. How much does it all cost! All the police! Roadblocks! Demonstrations!

Every year, around 150 car owners are upset that their car was towed

It is well known that people from Munich (a similar thing could be said about the people of Munich) like to grumble. The fact that such a meeting between politicians and the arms industry is taking place in a hotel in downtown Munich arouses displeasure. But if a similar event takes place under the heading G 7 in Elmau Castle on the far edge of the Alps, then that is of course not right either. How much does it all cost! The best reasons for a bad mood are those whose everyday life is actually affected by the conference – which is very few. For example, there are around 150 car owners every year who leave their car in one of the no-parking zones that have been marked days in advance with 1,000 signs.

Anyone who finds themselves stuck in a traffic jam because of one of the more than 200 police convoy and pilot trips grumbles with a certain amount of pride. Traffic jams are always annoying, but traffic jams because of politicians are of course even more annoying. But anyone who was stuck in a traffic jam because of Macron or even Kamala Harris can tell a story. The same applies if you happen to spot the arrival of police escorts and limousines in front of one of the 15 hotels involved. Or one of those ultra-heavy, heavily armored vehicles. “Wow, was that the ‘Beast’?”

Very few people in Munich are aware of the logistical effort required to bring a US Secretary of Defense to the hotel via “pilotage and smuggling”. Unlike the “Free Ride,” which is reserved for heads of state, there is no motorcycle escort and no completely closed roads. If necessary, only smaller sections are kept clear for a short time. Around 60 emergency services close individual access roads on the route from the airport to the city center, as well as the Middle Ring at a certain point, so that the convoy of 20 vehicles can pass unhindered a short time later. The road will be reopened immediately afterwards. “Like a wave,” is how operations managers describe the procedure.

Open detailed view

And then there are the many rallies around the Siko. Demonstrations from various compatriots – from Palestine, Iran, India, Ukraine – for or against a representative of their respective home country who is in the Bavarian Court or at least is assumed to be there. Anyone who walks through the city center with their eyes open on the three MSC days can get an idea of ​​how complicated world politics is – and that the meeting at the Bayerischer Hof may not be a pleasure for those involved.

20,000 demonstrators last year alone

Around 20,000 people demonstrated during the conference last year. The majority of them did not agree with the meeting or its contents. The largest rally hardly came from the lateral thinker camp. There was a lot of understanding there for someone who is not in Munich for good reason: Russian President Vladimir Putin. This got the traditional left-wing “Antisiko” demo and its creators into trouble. Traditionally, sympathy for the USA and NATO is low in these circles. But they didn’t want and don’t want to have anything to do with right-wing activities. In terms of numbers, they clearly lost out to the competition. It is always a challenge for the operational management of the 4,500 police officers and the Munich licensing authority to determine demonstration routes and times so that what should under no circumstances come together does not come together.

The feared goal: the “de-glazing” of the city center

In 2002, Claus Schreer from Munich organized a rally against the meeting in the Bayerischer Hof for the first time. Politicians and the police reacted in panic. The authorities expected 3,000 violent autonomous people whose goal could be to “de-glass” the city center. 300 detention cells were prepared. Mayor Christian Ude (SPD) threatened city facilities with consequences if they accommodated protesters. A ban on demonstrations was imposed. In fact, about 10,000 people came to protest the meeting. Schreer was arrested – and around 500 other protesters with him.

The following year, 35,000 demonstrators populated the city center. The participants in a union rally and the people who followed a call from left-wing groups ended up protesting together – against the threatened US invasion of Iraq. After that, the number of participants in the large demonstration continued to decline. The peace movement achieved success in 2008 when it was able to enforce a demonstration route to the residence, where the Siko participants dined. Those days are long gone. And Claus Schreer, Munich’s last leftist, as he was sometimes called, died last year.