The Munich Security Conference, the world’s largest meeting of foreign and security politicians, is dominated by the crisis in Ukraine.
Overshadowed by the danger of war on the Ukrainian border, hundreds of high-ranking foreign and security politicians, mostly from Western countries, will meet for the traditional exchange at the Munich Security Conference from Friday. Under strict pandemic conditions, the organizers are expecting up to 600 participants, including around one hundred heads of state and government and ministers. The most prominent speaker will be US Vice President Kamala Harris, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also expected. The federal government delegation is led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Although all major foreign and security policy issues will be discussed at the conference, the crisis between Russia and the West will draw the most attention. Despite repeated attempts by the conference organizers, the Russian government will not send any representatives. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has always appeared in Munich. The Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is also only connected via video because the Olympic Games are still ongoing. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will set the tone on Russia as one of the opening speakers on Friday afternoon.
Lambrecht calls for support for the people of Ukraine
It is expected that the largely Western participants will find many words of self-affirmation and want to demonstrate their determination against Russian aggression. Germany’s Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht called on the participants to support the transatlantic alliance. “In view of the threatening situation in Ukraine and the pressure on our eastern neighbors, we are refocusing on our values,” she said Süddeutsche Zeitung. “NATO is an alliance that creates security with military power, but which derives its real strength from its values.” At the same time, she indirectly called for support for the people in Ukraine: “We not only have to be able to defend ourselves – we also have to help others who are fighting for their freedom, their self-determination, their democracy,” said Lambrecht.
The seven most important Western industrial nations (G7) will use the conference to bring their foreign ministers together for a meeting. Germany currently holds the G7 presidency. It will be eagerly observed whether the actors involved in the negotiation process for the Iranian nuclear program will use the conference for final negotiations on a new agreement. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has agreed to attend. The negotiators will also speak in Munich.
Because of the pandemic, the number of participants in the security conference was reduced by two-thirds. However, this mainly affects the 1,200 journalists who have reported on the meeting so far. The conference will now be broadcast on a complex video platform and on various other channels, whereby an interactive exchange should also be possible.