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?
The organizers, organized in a non-profit foundation, are expecting a total of 180 government representatives from all over the world, as conference director Christoph Heusgen confirmed at the beginning of the week. The Munich police are targeting 50 heads of state and government, around 60 foreign ministers and more than 25 defense ministers who need to be protected; There are also other representatives of international organizations such as the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU) and the Western military alliance NATO.
As Heusgen confirmed to the German Press Agency (dpa), he will become Israel’s president Isaac Duke be one of the guests. Also the Ukrainian president Volodimir Zelensky is expected at the security conference on Saturday; according to his office in Berlin, he will meet with Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday. The Siko 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 Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz and Donald Tusk bring together the heads of state and government of the central European countries France, Germany and Poland. The federal government is reportedly with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Foreign Minister Annalena BaerbockMinister of Defense Boris PistoriusVice Chancellor Robert Habeck and finance minister Christian Lindner represent. At the head of the US delegation we will be vice president Kamala Harris and foreign minister Tony Blinken expected.
At the moment, 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. The Munich police point out the no-parking zones that will be set up around the conference venue. A police spokesman warned that anyone who has parked their car in the city center should check whether it is in such an area. Last year, more than 200 vehicle owners were contacted to repark their vehicles; 152 vehicles were towed.
So far, around 20 rallies have been announced in the context of the conference at the District Administration Department (KVR). Michael Dibowski, the head of operations for the Munich police, expects that spontaneous gatherings could occur. 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.
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 Stachus at 12.30 p.m. and circle the conference venue via Maximiliansplatz and Odeonsplatz to Marienplatz ; The second half of the circle should form a human chain from Karlsplatz to Marienplatz. The organization “Munich stands up”, which is close to the lateral thinkers, is planning a train through Maxvorstadt and the Bahnhofsviertel from 2 p.m. under the motto “Make Peace” with the start and finish at Königsplatz. The third major rally will take place at Odeonsplatz and is directed against the war in Ukraine.
How is the Munich police preparing?
Last year there were a record number of 4,800 civil servants who served as part of the security conference – which will be exceeded this year. More than 5,000 will be in action, and the Munich Presidium will be supported by units of the Federal Police, other Bavarian associations and even other federal states. The security forces from Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania have the longest journeys.
The security zone around the Bayerischer Hof on Promenadeplatz has been expanded this year. Because the neighboring Rosewood Hotel has been added as a second conference hotel, the security area extends to Salvatorstrasse and Salvatorplatz for the first time. There are special corridors for residents, business people and their customers, although the innermost security area can only be accessed with special accreditation.
Because of the barriers, tram traffic on lines 19 and 21, including the night line N19, which normally runs via Promenadeplatz, is also interrupted during Siko. The Lenbachplatz, Marienplatz/Theatinerstraße, Nationaltheater and Kammerspiele stops will not be served during this time.
In addition, there is a restriction on air traffic in the air within a radius of 5.5 kilometers above the city center, especially for drones. The prohibited area extends roughly from the Olympic Park to the Perlacher Forest.