The Munich Security Conference (MSC) started on Friday in the capital of Bavaria. The organizers' goal was to try to rebuild trust in transatlantic relations and provide further support for Ukraine, which is repelling Russian aggression.
What is the Munich Security Conference?
What are the goals of the conference organizers?
Who was the opening speaker of the conference?
How many heads of state and government are expected to participate in the deliberations?
Friedrich Merz talks about the situation in Europe today
During his opening speech, Friedrich Merz said that “the gap between ambition and opportunity has become too large” and Europeans must focus on closing it.
— A striking example is the GDP of Russia, which is currently around EUR 2 trillion, and that of the European Union, almost 10 times higher. But despite this, Europe is not 10 times stronger than Russia today. Our military, political, economic and technological potential is enormous, but we have not used it sufficiently for a long time, said the German Chancellor.
According to Merz, “the world order as we know it no longer exists.” “So the most important thing is to flip the switch in our minds now,” argued the German politician. He also recalled the words of the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Radosław Sikorski, from 15 years ago, who said that he was more afraid of German inaction than of German power. “This is also our responsibility,” Merz said, describing Germany's role in this new world order.
The Munich Security Conference is underway
The annual conference, called “Davos Security”, will last until Sunday. Organizers expect over 60 heads of state and government to attend the world's most important meeting of security policy experts, more than ever before. Approximately 100 foreign and defense ministers will take part in the deliberations.
In its 2026 report, the MSC team wrote that “the world has entered a period of wrecking ball politics.” The document, titled “In the Process of Destruction,” warns that the international order led by the United States is currently being destroyed.
