The Munich Security Conference will take place this year from February 16th to 18th. Government and business representatives, experts from the military and science will meet for the 60th time to exchange ideas. At the Hotel Bayerischer Hof, debates take place on an open stage about topics that move the world. Sometimes, however, the conversations that take place behind closed doors in the hotel salons – or simply in the corridors – are more important. The Siko, as it is called for short, is considered a large contact exchange.
Who’s coming this year?
Organized by a non-profit foundation, the organizers are expecting 50 heads of state and government and 100 ministers from all over the world, as well as representatives of international organizations such as the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU) and the Western military alliance NATO. As conference leader Christoph Heusgen confirmed to the German Press Agency (dpa) on Thursday, Israel will become president Izchak Duke be one of the guests. The organizers have not yet named any other names; it simply said that the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres The 60th Munich Security Conference is scheduled to open on February 16th.
As the dpa further reported, Heusgen also wants to bring together Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz and Donald Tusk, the heads of state and government of the central European countries France, Germany and Poland. The Ukrainian president may also do so Volodimir Zelensky attend the security conference.
At the moment, however, the only thing that is certain is those who are not coming: As in the previous year, no government representatives from Russia and Iran are invited, nor are any representatives of the parties AfD and Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht or the Values Union association.
What is being talked about?
The organizers have not yet published an official agenda. In general, there is talk of “regional conflicts,” which primarily refers to the wars in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip. Other topics are likely to include international relations between the major powers and Europe’s role in the world. Climate and nutrition issues will probably also come up.
What happens around the security conference?
Parallel to the security conference, the peace conference is taking place again, which sees itself as a counterweight. This year it meets in the Freedom Hall and the University of Philosophy.
Traditionally, there are also a lot of demonstrations against the Siko on the streets; Traffic disruptions in the city center are therefore to be expected. In view of the carnival holidays next week, the Munich police are already pointing out the no-parking zones that will be set up around the conference venue. Anyone who has parked their car in the city center should check whether it is in such an area. A police spokesman said it is expected that vehicles will be towed away from Wednesday evening. He emphatically reminded that there could be short-term extensions to the stopping bans, depending on where the registered demonstrations ultimately take place.
So far, 17 rallies have been announced in the context of the conference at the District Administration Department (KVR). “At some meetings there will be changes to the times, days and locations because, for example, places cannot be allocated twice,” says a KVR spokesman. As always, the larger squares in the city are particularly popular for demonstrations: Odeonsplatz, Karlsplatz and Marienplatz as well as Max-Joseph-Platz. The organizers who expect the most participants, usually several thousand, always go there.
The first demonstration will take place on Wednesday afternoon, i.e 14th of February, on the Promenadeplatz in front of the Bayerischer Hof conference hotel. The “Munich Peace Alliance” calls for this under the motto “Negotiate instead of shooting – stop the wars!”. Six to eight demonstrators were registered.
Saturday will once again be busiest, also because two demonstrations are planned through the city on that day: The “Action Alliance against the NATO Security Conference” wants to start at 12.30 p.m. at Stachus and end at Marienplatz; The organization “Munich stands up”, which is close to the lateral thinkers, wants to set off from Königsplatz at 2 p.m. and return there.
How is the Munich police preparing?
Police headquarters on Ettstrasse say that preparations are “currently in full swing”; Further details should be communicated at a media event three days before the start of the event, i.e. on Shrove Tuesday. How many police officers will be on duty is still unclear until then and depends on how many and which heads of government arrive. Last year there were a record number of 4,800 civil servants who served as part of the security conference.
It is not yet clear how large the security zone around the conference hotel on Promenadeplatz will be this time. A police spokesman has already announced changes compared to previous years; Experience has shown that this means more of an expansion than a reduction. Last year, special corridors were set up for residents, business people and their customers; it should happen again this time.