This year’s Munich Security Conference took place in a revived and upbeat atmosphere as Europe took centre stage, in contrast to last year’s event which featured JD Vance and his derogatory remarks about Europe. The Conference opened with Chairman Wolfgang Ischinder paying tribute to President Emmanuel Macron’s aviator glasses.
European leaders reiterated that although the security architecture in Europe was changing as Europe is seeking autonomy in defence and security, the trans-Atlantic partnership remains in existence and the most important European alliance. California Governor Gavin Newsom was also present at the conference and pledged that the US will still remain Europe’s biggest partner and that President Donald Trump’s are temporary and will only until the time he is in power.
The most important announcement made was probably by Chancellor Friedrich Merz who said that Germany seeks a European nuclear deterrent France. French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed talks about this end and said that UK is also involved. Quoting French President Charles De Gaulle President Emmanuel Macron said that France’s nuclear deterrent was originally a European vision.
President Macron said that Europe was fully financing Ukraine’s war-effort without US help and this shows that Europe is already standing up to its security single-handedly. The French President also said that sending European troops to the battlefield in Ukraine would be a severe escalation and ruled out this option, however Russia does not show any sign it is interested it will end its war on Ukraine. To end the war in Ukraine, President Macron said that Europe needs the US on its side to implement and enforce sanctions on Russia. He added that he will be proposing to add more sanctions on Russia, especially on its shadow fleet, to put more pressure on Russia to end the war. Moldova’s President Maia Sandou was also present and said that the sovereignty of previous Soviet states in eastern Europe will be affected how the war in Ukraine will end.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that Russia will end this war only when either its economy or its military are severely weakened. The German Chancellor spoke on similar lines to the French President and warned that the international-rules based order is no longer functional and Europeans have to accept this reality. EU High Representative Kaja Kallas made the same point, while Finnish President Alexander Stubb reiterated his Finnish policy of “pragmatic idealism”.
The common underlying message by European leaders was that although the USA remains Europe’s most important partner and ally, Europe’s security has to be a fully local affair. There also seems to be common agreement between most European leaders that Europe should strengthen its block in NATO rather than building a new European army. The European drive to security and defence is taking place in the backdrop of a world one single person can decide to start a war on another country, the EU High Representative said: she added that no one should be above the law and those who violate the law should be held accountable.
President Volodymyr Zelensky was also presented who met European leaders and also inaugurated a co-joint manufacturing venture of drones between Ukraine and Germany with Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.
The conference featured many world leaders from Africa and also the Arab world. Sudanese Prime Minister Kamil Idris met the Goldman Sachs’ President of Global Affairs Jared Cohen.
Reza Pahlavi was also present and met with the Ukrainian President. He advocated for a democratic future for Iran free from the current regime and emphasised that the Iranian people face severe repression in their struggle for change, calling on the international community, including the US, to provide meaningful support through diplomatic or other means to help dismantle the repressive apparatus.
Syria’s Foreign Minister Hassan al-Shaibani along with SDF leader Mazloum Abdi. The Kurdish leader joined the Syrian Minister in a meeting with US State Secretary Marco Rubio. The historic appearance of Mazloum Abdi at the conference adds hopes for a peaceful settlement in north-eastern Syria.
House Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez also made an appearance to the Conference and said that authoritarianism is rising as a result of rising income inequality but she also said that the US is being forced to withdraw from its international role in the world only to have its influence replaced by authoritarian dictatorships.
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