Updated:
A good three hours of video switching instead of a three-day conference with 800 participants in a confined space – that was the Munich Security Conference 2021 because of Corona. Next year, many things should be the same as before. Special attention will be paid to a guest.
Berlin / Munich – The Munich Security Conference will take place from February 18 to 20, 2022 as a face-to-face event for the first time in two years. Because of the corona pandemic, the number of participants will still be limited, said conference leader Wolfgang Ischinger of the German Press Agency. He expects the future federal government to present its foreign policy agenda at the conference. «I firmly assume that the future Chancellor would like to take the opportunity to appear there. This may also apply to the foreign and defense ministers and other cabinet members. “
This year the security conference only took place virtually and in a significantly abbreviated form – but with a prominent cast. US President Joe Biden addressed a European audience for the first time by video on February 19, just three weeks after he was sworn in, assuring that the USA would again be a reliable partner after the turmoil under his predecessor Donald Trump.
This year, the world’s most important security policy expert meeting is to take place physically again. “The need to re-establish personal contacts is particularly great among foreign policy decision-makers, because they are very often sensitive issues,” said Ischinger. There is “an enormous demand” for it.
However, Ischinger will not be able to meet all participation requests. Most recently, around 800 government representatives and security experts gathered for three days in the Hotel Bayerischer Hof in 2020, including 35 heads of state and government as well as almost 100 foreign and defense ministers. In addition, hundreds of media representatives report on the conference every year.
The frame will now be smaller. “Because of the pandemic, the number of participants has to be reduced significantly in order to guarantee the greatest possible security and of course full compliance with the law,” said Ischinger. In his opinion, there will be no shortage of high-ranking guests. “I am assuming that the US will be represented at a very high level as usual,” said the former top diplomat, who was ambassador to Washington, among other things. “I suspect at least a minister or two will turn up. Vice-Presidents have also appeared in Munich in previous years. That would not be a surprise either. ” Ischinger is also expecting high-ranking participants from China and Russia. “We don’t have to do a lot of lobbying. Rather, the problem will be that we have to choose. “
One thematic focus has already been determined: European security and defense policy. France, which will hold the EU Council Presidency in the first half of 2022, is planning a summit meeting. “We will try to structure the agenda in Munich in such a way that it is a warm-up for this EU summit in March,” said Ischinger. (dpa)
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