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{{short description|Annual conference on international security policy}}
{{for|the September 1938 Munich Conference|Munich Agreement}}
{{Use Oxford spelling |date=February 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox organization
| name                     = Munich Security Conference
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| image                    = MSC Corporate Lettering MSC-Blue RGB pdf.png
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| abbreviation             = MSC
| predecessor              = Internationale Wehrkundebegegnung / Münchner Wehrkundetagung
| formation                = 1963
| founder                  = [[Ewald-Heinrich von Kleist-Schmenzin]]
| extinction               = <!-- e.g. use {{end date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
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| registration_id          = <!-- for non-profit org -->
| status                   = Non-profit foundation
| purpose                  = Peace through dialogue ([[diplomacy]])
| headquarters             = 
| location                 = [[Munich]], Germany
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| methods                  = Host conferences
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| leader_title             = Chairman
| leader_name              = [[Wolfgang Ischinger]]
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The '''Munich Security Conference'''{{efn|{{langx|de|Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz}}, {{IPA|de|ˈmʏnçnɐ ˌzɪçɐhaɪtsˌkɔnfeˈʁɛnts|pron}}.}} ('''MSC'''), formerly '''Munich Conference on Security Policy''',{{efn|{{langx|de|Münchner Konferenz für Sicherheitspolitik}}, {{IPA|de|ˈmʏnçnɐ kɔnfeˈʁɛnts fʏɐ̯ ˌzɪçɐhaɪtspoliˈtiːk|pron}}.}}<ref name="Historisches Lexikon">{{Cite web |last=Tobias Greiff |title=Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz |url=http://www.historisches-lexikon-bayerns.de/artikel/artikel_46205 |access-date=22 November 2014 |publisher=Historisches Lexikon Bayerns |language=de}}</ref> is an annual [[conference]] on [[international security]] policy that has been held in [[Munich]], Germany, since 1963. It is the world's largest gathering of its kind.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ronzheimer |first=Manfred |date=15 February 2024 |title=Munich Security Conference: technologies increasingly part of global power politics |url=https://sciencebusiness.net/news/semiconductors/munich-security-conference-technologies-increasingly-part-global-power-politics |website=sciencebusiness.net}}</ref>[[File:Hotel Bayerischer Hof München-Außenansicht-Südseite-Blick nach Osten.JPG|thumb|[[Hotel Bayerischer Hof, Munich|Hotel Bayerischer Hof]]|left]]

Over the past four decades the Munich Security Conference has become the most important independent forum for the exchange of views by international security policy decision-makers. Each year it brings together about 350 senior figures from more than 70 countries around the world to engage in an intensive debate on current and future security challenges. The list of attendees includes [[Head of state|heads of states]], [[government]]s and [[International organization|international organizations]], [[Minister (government)|ministers]], [[Member of parliament|members of parliament]], high-ranking representatives of [[Military|armed forces]], [[Scientist|science]], [[civil society]], as well as [[business]] and [[Mass media|media]].

The conference is held annually in February. The venue is the [[Hotel Bayerischer Hof, Munich|Hotel Bayerischer Hof]] in [[Munich]], [[Bavaria]], Germany.

==History==
[[File:Ewald-Heinrich von Kleist-Schmenzin 2009.jpg|thumb|upright|Founder [[Ewald-Heinrich von Kleist-Schmenzin]]]]
[[File:Msc 2009-Friday, 16.00 - 19.00 Uhr-Zwez 010 Ischinger.jpg|thumb|upright|Chair 2009–2022 [[Wolfgang Ischinger]]]]

The conference evolved from the ''Internationale Wehrkundebegegnung'' / ''Münchner Wehrkundetagung'',<ref>{{Cite web |last=William S. Cohen |date=28 January 2014 |title=Little Patience for Frivolous Speeches - A Personal Remembrance of Wehrkunde and Ewald von Kleist |url=https://www.securityconference.de/news//article/little-patience-for-frivolous-speeches-a-personal-remembrance-of-wehrkunde-and-ewald-von-kleist/ |access-date=21 February 2014 |publisher=Munich Security Conference}}</ref> which was founded in 1963 by [[Ewald-Heinrich von Kleist-Schmenzin]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wolfgang Ischinger |date=13 March 2013 |title=Die Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz trauert um Ewald-Heinrich von Kleist |url=https://www.securityconference.de/news/news/article/die-muenchner-sicherheitskonferenz-trauert-um-ewald-heinrich-von-kleist/ |access-date=22 November 2014 |publisher=Munich Security Conference |language=de}}</ref> The resistance fighter from the [[Claus von Stauffenberg|Stauffenberg circle]] hoped to prevent military conflicts such as the [[World War II|Second World War]] in the future and brought together leaders and experts in security policy for this reason. The first meeting was limited to about 60 participants; among them were [[Helmut Schmidt]] and [[Henry Kissinger]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stefan Kornelius |date=30 January 2014 |title=Vom Privat-Treffen zum Riesenzirkus |url=http://www.sueddeutsche.de/muenchen/-muenchner-sicherheitskonferenz-vom-privat-treffen-zum-riesenzirkus-1.1875580 |access-date=22 November 2014 |publisher=[[Süddeutsche Zeitung]] |language=de}}</ref> Von Kleist led the meetings until 1998; his successor who led them from 1998 until 2008 was politician and business manager Horst Teltschik ([[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|CDU]]).

Since 2008, the conference is headed by the former diplomat [[Wolfgang Ischinger]]. Ischinger established the Munich Security Conference <!-- g -->GmbH non-profit company in 2011, which he has led until [[Christoph Heusgen]] took over the position in February 2022.<ref name="Historisches Lexikon" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ambassador Wolfgang ISCHINGER |url=http://www.gcsp.ch/About-Us/Global-Fellowship-Initiative/Associate-Fellows/Ambassador-Wolfgang-ISCHINGER |access-date=22 November 2014 |publisher=Geneva Centre for Security Policy}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Curriculum Vitae of Christoph Heusgen |url=https://securityconference.org/en/about-us/chairman-team/christoph-heusgen/ |access-date=24 August 2022 |website=securityconference.org |language=en-GB}}</ref> Vice Chairmen are Ambassador Rainer Rudolph, successor to Ambassador [[Boris Ruge]], and Dr. Benedikt Franke, who is also CEO.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vorsitz und Team - Munich Security Conference |url=https://securityconference.org/ueber-uns/vorsitz-team/ |access-date=20 January 2024 |website=securityconference.org |language=de-DE}}</ref> 

In October 2024, former [[NATO]] Secretary General [[Jens Stoltenberg]] was named as the incoming chairman starting in 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 October 2024 |title=Jens Stoltenberg to be the next Chairman of the Munich Security Conference |url=https://securityconference.org/en/news/full/jens-stoltenberg-next-chairman-munich-security-conference/ |access-date=9 October 2024 |website=securityconference.org |language=EN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=MSC: Why Jens Stoltenberg will take over later in Munich |url=https://table.media/en/europe/news/msc-why-jens-stoltenberg-will-take-over-later-in-munich |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=table.media |language=de}}</ref>{{Obsolete source|reason=Jens Stoltenberg became Norway's Minister of Finance instead.|date=February 2025}}<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-10-09 |title=Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz: Jens Stoltenberg bestätigt Wechsel |url=https://www.spiegel.de/ausland/jens-stoltenberg-bestaetigt-wechsel-zur-muenchner-sicherheitskonferenz-a-b7e0a971-51b6-4f99-8810-ccae170e5335 |access-date=2025-11-18 |work=Der Spiegel |language=de |issn=2195-1349}}</ref>He shall assume the Chair of the MSC once his public duties in Norway have come to an end. Until then, following the MSC Foundation Charter, Wolfgang Ischinger will serve as Chairman.<ref>{{Cite news |last=dpa |date=2025-10-13 |title=Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz: Stoltenbergs Wechsel auf MSC-Chefsessel weiter ohne Termin |url=https://www.zeit.de/news/2025-10/13/stoltenbergs-wechsel-auf-msc-chefsessel-weiter-ohne-termin |access-date=2025-11-18 |work=Die Zeit |language=de-DE |issn=0044-2070}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Jens Stoltenberg to become head of the Munich Security Conference {{!}} diplo.news |url=https://www.diplo.news/en/articles/wechsel-an-der-spitze-der-msc-lasst-noch-auf-sich-warten |access-date=2025-11-18 |website=www.diplo.news |language=en}}</ref>

In 2018 the company was subsumed into the MSC Foundation, with an endowment from contributions by the German government and other big donors. Funding has increased from less than €1 million of public funding in 2008 to about €10 million of mostly corporate funding in 2022.<ref name="politico-20220216">{{Cite news |last=Karnitschnig |first=Matthew |date=16 February 2022 |title=In diplomacy, Europe's most powerful ambassador means business |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/diplomacy-wolfgang-ischinger-munich-security-conference/ |access-date=19 February 2022 |work=POLITICO}}</ref> 

The Munich Security Conference was canceled three times, in 1965 when it was scheduled from the end of the year to the  beginning of the following year, in 1991 due to the [[Gulf War|First Gulf War]] and 1997 as a result of the retirement of von Kleist.<ref name="Historisches Lexikon" /> Under the leadership of Teltschik the Security Conference opened in 1999 for political, military and business leaders from Central and Eastern Europe as well as India, Japan, South Korea and the People's Republic of China, and by now includes leaders of the whole world.

==Purpose==
At this conference, under the theme of peace through dialogue, senior politicians, diplomats, military and security experts from the member countries of [[NATO]] and the [[European Union]], but also from other countries such as [[China]], [[India]], [[Iran]], [[Japan]], 
[[South Korea]] and [[Russia]] are invited to discuss the current issues in security and defense policies.

The intention of the conference is to address the topical main security issues and to debate and analyze the main security challenges in the present and the future in line with the concept of networked security. A focal point of the conference is the discussion and the exchange of views on the development of the [[wikt:transatlantic|transatlantic]] relations as well as European and global security in the 21st century.

The conference is organized privately and therefore not an official government event. It is used exclusively for discussion; an authorization for binding intergovernmental decisions does not exist. Furthermore, there is - contrary to usual conventions - no common final communiqué. The high-level meeting is also used to discrete background discussions between the participants. An exception is the presentation of global political decisions, such as the exchange of instruments of [[ratification]] for the [[New START]] disarmament agreement between the United States and Russia, which was held at the conclusion of the security conference in 2011.

==Conferences==
===2003===
At the 39th conference in 2003, [[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Germany)|German Minister for Foreign Affairs]] [[Joschka Fischer]] doubted the reasoning of the [[Federal government of the United States|U.S. government]] for a [[Iraq War|war against Iraq]] with the words "Excuse me, I am not convinced".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kate Connolly |date=10 February 2003 |title=I am not convinced, Fischer tells Rumsfeld |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/1421634/I-am-not-convinced-Fischer-tells-Rumsfeld.html |access-date=22 November 2014 |publisher=The Telegraph}}</ref>

===2007===
See [[2007 Munich speech of Vladimir Putin]].

===2009===
From 6–8 February 2009, the 45th Munich Security Conference<ref>{{Cite news |last=Schmitz |first=Gregor Peter |date=6 February 2009 |title=Obama Sends Vice President to Build Bridges |url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,605949,00.html |access-date=12 December 2012 |work=Der Spiegel |publisher=Spiegel.de}}</ref> was attended by over 50 ministers and more than a dozen heads of state and government from all over the world, including [[French President]] [[Nicolas Sarkozy]], [[German Chancellor]] [[Angela Merkel]], [[Polish Prime Minister]] [[Donald Tusk]] and [[Afghan President]] [[Hamid Karzai]]. [[Vice President of the United States|US Vice President]] [[Joe Biden]] was also in attendance.

In 2009 the MSC inaugurated the Ewald von Kleist Award.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ewald-von-Kleist-Award: MSC |url=http://www.securityconference.de/Ewald-von-Kleist-Award.346+M52087573ab0.0.html |access-date=12 December 2012 |publisher=Securityconference.de}}</ref> The new award highlights the political life and work of [[Ewald-Heinrich von Kleist-Schmenzin|Ewald von Kleist]], who founded the Munich Security Conference. The award will be given to prominent individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to peace and conflict resolution. The winners of the Ewald von Kleist Award were in 2009 Dr [[Henry Kissinger]] and in 2010 [[Javier Solana de Madariaga]]. Also in 2009, the MSC initiated a new event format, called MSC Core Group Meeting.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 November 2011 |title=MSC Core Group Meeting: MSC |url=http://www.securityconference.de/MSC-Core-Group-Meeting.253+M52087573ab0.0.html |access-date=12 December 2012 |publisher=Securityconference.de}}</ref> This new and smaller-scale event was introduced in addition to the annual main, Munich-based meeting of the Munich Security Conference. The idea is to invite a number of distinguished and high-ranking participants to changing capitals and give them the opportunity to confidentially discuss current international security policy issues and develop sustainable solutions. Meetings took place 2009 in [[Washington D.C.]], 2010 in [[Moscow]] and 2011 in [[Beijing]].

===2011===
The 47th Munich Security Conference<ref>{{Cite web |title=Egypt, terrorism lead discussion at Munich Security Conference |url=http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14819779,00.html |access-date=12 December 2012 |publisher=Dw-world.de}}</ref> was held from 4 to 6 February 2011 and again assembled top-level decision makers from all over the world, including [[UN Secretary-General]] [[Ban Ki-moon]], [[German Chancellor]] [[Angela Merkel]], [[British Prime Minister]] [[David Cameron]] [[U.S. Secretary of State]] [[Hillary Clinton]] and Russian Foreign Minister [[Sergey Lavrov]] whilst [[Belarus]] was excluded from the circle of attendees because of the country's human rights situation.

In 2011, two special features marked the growing role of the Munich Security Conference as a centre of attention of international security policy: [[European Union]]'s High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy [[Catherine Ashton]] called for the Quartet on the [[Middle East]], consisting of the [[European Union|EU]], Russia, the United States and the [[UN]], to meet within the setting of the 2011 Munich Security Conference; and during a ceremony on the sidelines of the conference, the [[New START|New START Treaty]] (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) entered into force when Russia's [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Russia)|Foreign Minister]] [[Sergey Lavrov]] and [[U.S. Secretary of State]] [[Hillary Clinton]] exchanged the instruments of ratification.[[File:George Soros.jpg|thumb|The image represents [[George Soros]], the Chairman of [[Soros Fund Management]], speaking at the 48th Munich Security Conference in 2012, highlighting his involvement in global security discussions and his views on international finance and politics.]]

===2012===
{{Multiple image
| total_width = 250px
| direction   = vertical
| image1      = Msc2012 20120204 566 Clinton Hillary-Yanukovych Viktor Frank Plitt.jpg
| caption1    = Ukrainian President [[Viktor Yanukovych]] meeting [[Hillary Clinton]] at the 48th Munich Security Conference in 2012
| image2      = Msc2012 20120204 001 Monti Ackermann Zoellick Steinbrueck Soros SZwez.jpg
| caption2    = From left to right: [[Mario Monti]], [[Josef Ackermann]], [[Robert B. Zoellick]], [[Peer Steinbrück]], [[George Soros]]
}}

The 48th Munich Security Conference was held from 2 to 5 February 2012.

===2013===
{{Main|49th Munich Security Conference}}

The 49th Munich Security Conference was held from 1 to 3 February 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 February 2013 |title=1-3 February: The World looks towards Munich at Munich Security Conference 2013 |url=http://eeas.europa.eu/top_stories/2013/010213_msc_en.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625112833/http://eeas.europa.eu/top_stories/2013/010213_msc_en.htm |archive-date=25 June 2016 |access-date=18 May 2020 |publisher=European Union External Action}}</ref> The conference focused on the [[European debt crisis]], [[transatlantic relations]], the crisis regions of [[Mali]] and the [[Middle East]], as well as [[energy security]] and [[cyber terrorism]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 February 2013 |title=Hintergrund: Themen und Teilnehmer der 49. Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz |url=http://www.zeit.de/news/2013-02/01/international-hntergrund-themen-und-teilnehmer-der-49-muenchner-sicherheitskonferenz-01085612 |access-date=18 May 2020 |publisher=ZEIT ONLINE |language=de}}</ref>

===2014===
{{Main|50th Munich Security Conference}}

The 50th Munich Security Conference was held from 31 January to 2 February 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 January 2014 |title=Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja to attend the Munich Security Conference |url=http://www.finemb.org.uk/public/default.aspx?contentid=297828&nodeid=35866&contentlan=2&culture=en-GB |access-date=13 January 2015 |publisher=Embassy of Finland, London}}</ref> The conference focused on [[Euromaidan]], new security risks, loss of importance for Europe, the [[NSA spying scandal|NSA spying affair]] and political normalization in former Yugoslavia, as well as the Middle east, and [[Iran's nuclear program]].

===2015===
{{Main|51st Munich Security Conference}}

The 51st Munich Security Conference was held from 6 to 8 February 2015. Among the more than 400 international participants<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tang Zhiqiang, He Mengshu |date=9 February 2015 |title=Spotlight: Munich meeting ends with Europe-U.S. clash over Ukraine |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/europe/europe/2015-02/09/c_133980469.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212010530/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/europe/europe/2015-02/09/c_133980469.htm |archive-date=12 February 2015 |access-date=6 July 2015 |publisher=Xinhua}}</ref> from nearly 80 countries were also 20 heads of state, 70 foreign and defense ministers<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dietmar Neuerer |date=6 February 2015 |title=Düstere Aussichten für die Weltkrisenlöser |url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/muenchner-sicherheitskonferenz-duestere-aussichten-fuer-die-weltkrisenloeser/11337712.html |access-date=6 July 2015 |publisher=Handelsblatt |language=de}}</ref> and 30 CEOs of large companies.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Christoph Herwartz |date=6 February 2015 |title=Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz: Wie nutzt Merkel ihre große Bühne? |url=http://www.n-tv.de/politik/Wie-nutzt-Merkel-ihre-grosse-Buehne-article14461496.html |access-date=6 July 2015 |publisher=n-tv |language=de}}</ref> The conferences focused on the [[Russo-Ukrainian War]], nuclear negotiations with Iran and the [[war on terror]] as well as the global refugees crisis.

===2016===
{{Main|52nd Munich Security Conference}}

The 52nd Munich Security Conference took place from 12 to 14 February 2016. 600 international guests attended the event, including 30 heads of state, 70 foreign and defense ministers, directors of various [[Intelligence agency|intelligence agencies]] and 700 journalists from 48 countries.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Matthias von Hein |date=11 February 2016 |title=Die Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz in Zahlen |url=http://www.dw.com/de/die-m=25C3=25BCnchner-sicherheitskonferenz-in-zahlen/a-19037001 |access-date=9 November 2016 |publisher=Deutsche Welle |language=de}}</ref>
The conferences focused on the conflict between NATO and the Russian Federation, Syria and the fight against [[Islamic State|ISIS]], the situation in the Middle East, the future of NATO, the [[North Korean nuclear program]], intelligence services, the 2016 Ewald von Kleist Award, the situation in Africa as well as the ongoing refugee crisis.

===2017===
{{Main|53rd Munich Security Conference}}

[[File:170217-D-GO396-0271 (32143198643).jpg|thumb|[[53rd Munich Security Conference]] 2017]]

The 53rd Munich Security Conference (MSC 2017) took place from 17 to 19 February 2017 at [[Hotel Bayerischer Hof, Munich|Hotel Bayerischer Hof]] in Munich. With a total of 680 participants,<ref name="siko">{{Cite web |last=Martin Bernstein |date=17 February 2017 |title=Was bei der Siko auf die Polizei zukommt |url=http://www.sueddeutsche.de/muenchen/muenchner-sicherheitskonferenz-was-bei-der-siko-auf-die-polizei-zukommt-1.3383641 |access-date=24 January 2018 |publisher=Süddeutsche Zeitung |language=de}}</ref> including 30 heads of state and government, nearly 60 representatives of international organizations and 65 top business leaders,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Matthias von Hein |date=17 February 2017 |title=Acht Fakten zur Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz |url=http://www.dw.com/de/acht-fakten-zur-m%C3%BCnchner-sicherheitskonferenz/a-37563343 |access-date=24 January 2018 |publisher=Deutsche Welle |language=de}}</ref> it was the largest conference to date.<ref name="siko" /> Prominent guests and speakers were [[Secretary-General of the United Nations|UN Secretary General]] [[António Guterres]], U.S. Vice President [[Mike Pence]], [[United States Secretary of Defense|US Secretary of Defense]] [[James Mattis]], Russian Foreign Minister [[Sergey Lavrov]], [[Federica Mogherini]], [[Donald Tusk]] and Chinese Foreign Minister [[Wang Yi (politician)|Wang Yi]]. 700 journalists were also accredited for the event. In addition to the main events of the security conference, there were 1,350 bilateral meetings among MSC participants and delegations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Paul Kreiner, Christopher Ziedler |date=19 February 2017 |title=Viel Lob für die amerikanische Delegation |url=http://www.stuttgarter-zeitung.de/inhalt.sicherheitskonferenz-in-muenchen-amerika-ohne-telefonnummer-page1.4c12bc10-6786-4c32-bfaf-13b1ff273a74.html |access-date=24 January 2018 |publisher=Stuttgarter Zeitung |language=de}}</ref> The conferences focused on the future of the EU, NATO and the West, China's foreign policy, global health risks, the fight against terrorism, the Middle East and Iran as well as the US foreign policy towards Russia.

===2018===
{{Main|54th Munich Security Conference}}

The 54th Munich Security Conference (MSC 2018) took place from 16 to 18 February 2018 at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Munich.

===2019===
{{Main|55th Munich Security Conference}}


The 55th Munich Security Conference (MSC 2019) took place from 15 to 17 February 2019 at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Munich. Among the 600<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 February 2019 |title=US-Vizepräsident Pence kommt zur Sicherheitskonferenz |url=https://www.welt.de/regionales/bayern/article187934123/US-Vizepraesident-Pence-kommt-zur-Sicherheitskonferenz.html |access-date=2 February 2020 |publisher=Welt |language=de}}</ref> participants were heads of state and government from more than 35 countries, 50 foreign and 30 defence ministers, other representatives from the fields of politics, the military, the arms industry, business and science, as well as members of international intergovernmental and civil society organizations.<ref name="civil">{{Cite web |date=7 February 2019 |title=Macron verzichtet auf Treffen mit Merkel |url=https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/macron-sicherheitskonferenz-absage-101.html |access-date=2 February 2020 |website=tagesschau.de |language=de}}</ref>[[File:NTI Side Event MSC 2020 Nancy Pelosi.jpg|thumb|Nancy Pelosi speaking at a side event hosted by the Nuclear Threat Initiative at the [[56th Munich Security Conference]]]][[File:MSC 2021 SE 01 Biden Merkel Macron.jpg|thumb|260x260px|[[Joe Biden]], [[Angela Merkel]] and [[Emmanuel Macron]] just before delivering their remarks at the [[Munich Special Edition 2021]]]]

===2020===
The 56th Munich Security Conference (MSC 2020) took place from 14 to 16 February 2020 at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Munich. Among the more than 500<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ruairi Casey |date=14 February 2020 |title=What to expect from the Munich Security Conference? |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/2/14/what-to-expect-from-the-munich-security-conference |access-date=17 October 2020}}</ref> participants were heads of state and government from 35 countries. Joe Biden, later the 46th President of the United States, committed himself to a new tone from Washington on the political world stage and regarding multilateralism. He promised: "We will be back."

===2021===
The 57th Munich Security Conference ("Munich Special Edition 2021") took place on 19 February in the form of a virtual online conference, without in-person attendance, due to the ongoing [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. The event was addressed by British PM [[Boris Johnson]], German Chancellor [[Angela Merkel]], French President [[Emmanuel Macron]] and US President [[Joe Biden]], who declared that "America is back".

===2022===
The 58th MSC took place from 18 to 20 February 2022. The motto was "''Turning the Tide – Unlearning Helplessness''". It was attended by over 30 Heads of State, 100 ministers and the heads of many of the most important international organizations like [[NATO]], the [[European Union|EU]] and the [[United Nations|UN]]. This conference was held on a smaller scale than usual due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zeitung |first=Süddeutsche |date=26 October 2021 |title=München: Sicherheitskonferenz 2022 wieder als Präsenzveranstaltung |url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/muenchen/muenchen-sicherheitskonferenz-praesenz-corona-1.5449871 |access-date=20 February 2022 |website=Süddeutsche.de |language=de}}</ref> and was largely dominated by talks about the [[Prelude to the Russian invasion of Ukraine|escalation in the Russo-Ukrainian war]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Marsh |first1=Sarah |last2=Siebold |first2=Sabine |date=18 February 2022 |title=Ukraine crisis takes centre stage at Munich Security Conference |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-crisis-takes-centre-stage-munich-security-conference-2022-02-18/ |access-date=20 February 2022 |work=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=7 February 2022 |title=Information about the Munich Security Conference 2022, February 18–20 |url=https://securityconference.org/en/news/full/information-about-the-munich-security-conference-2022-february-18-20/ |access-date=20 February 2022}}</ref> [[António Guterres|UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres]] notably said that the world was in a more precarious security situation than during the [[Cold War]]. U.S. Vice President [[Kamala Harris]] also said that the US was ready to hit Moscow with tough sanctions in the event of an attack. Russia was not present at the conference,<ref name="dwmsc22">{{Cite web |title=Munich Security Conference opens — without Russia |url=https://www.dw.com/en/munich-security-conference-opens-without-russia/a-60827995 |access-date=20 February 2022 |website=[[Deutsche Welle]]}}</ref> while Ukrainian President [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]] warned Western nations that they should abandon their policy of appeasement toward Moscow,<ref name="f24msc">{{Cite news |date=19 February 2022 |title=Ukraine is 'longing for peace' says Zelensky at Munich Security Conference |url=https://www.france24.com/en/video/20220219-ukraine-is-longing-for-peace-says-zelensky-at-munich-security-conference |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220219152150/https://www.france24.com/en/video/20220219-ukraine-is-longing-for-peace-says-zelensky-at-munich-security-conference |archive-date=19 February 2022 |access-date=19 February 2022 |work=France 24 |publisher=France 24 |agency=France 24}}</ref> and foreshadowed the Russian onslaught which was to occur only five days later: "To really help Ukraine, it is not necessary to constantly talk only about the dates of the probable invasion... Ukraine has been granted security assurances (with the 1994 [[Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances]]) in exchange for giving up the world's third-largest nuclear arsenal. We don't have any firearms. And there's no security."<ref name="kyzfs">{{Cite news |date=19 February 2022 |title=Zelensky's full speech at Munich Security Conference |url=https://kyivindependent.com/national/zelenskys-full-speech-at-munich-security-conference |publisher=KYIV INDEPENDENT}}</ref>[[File:Foreign Minister Antony Blinken at the 59th MSC, Munich, 2023-02-18.jpg|alt=Foreign Minister Antony Blinken at the 59th MSC|thumb|[[Antony Blinken]] (Secretary of State, United States of America) attending the Panel Discussion "Whole, Free, and at Peace: Visions for Ukraine" on the Main Stage of the [[59th Munich Security Conference]] in 2023]]

===2023===
{{Main|59th Munich Security Conference}}

The 59th MSC took place from 17 to 19 February 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Searching for a Common Vision |url=https://securityconference.org/en/publications/munich-security-brief/searching-for-a-common-vision/ |access-date=27 March 2023 |website=securityconference.org |language=en-GB}}</ref> The overarching the motto "Re:Vision," which is also the title of the Munich Security Conference report that has been published in preparation for the conference.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Re:vision – Munich Security Report 2023 |url=https://securityconference.org/en/publications/munich-security-report-2023/ |access-date=27 March 2023 |website=securityconference.org |language=en-GB}}</ref> On the one hand, the debates focused on the increased efforts of autocratic states to revise the international order. On the other hand, the conference called for new common visions for the international order and possible cooperation despite geopolitical challenges. Representatives from all over the world participated,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Participants of the Munich Security Conference 2023 |url=https://securityconference.org/en/msc-2023/participants/ |access-date=27 March 2023 |website=securityconference.org |language=en-GB}}</ref> among them: [[Kamala Harris]], [[Antony Blinken]], [[Rishi Sunak]], [[Emmanuel Macron]], [[Olaf Scholz]], [[Annalena Baerbock]], [[Boris Pistorius]], [[Ursula von der Leyen]], [[Jens Stoltenberg]], [[Wang Yi (politician)|Wang Yi]], [[Andrzej Duda]], [[Francia Márquez]], [[Kaja Kallas]], [[Nana Akufo-Addo]] and [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy|Volodymyr Zelensky]] (virtually). 

[[File:Vice President Kamala D. Harris at the 59th MSC, Munich, 2023-02-18.jpg|thumb|[[Kamala Harris|Kamala D. Harris]] (Vice President, United States of America) giving her speech at the Conversation "The US in the World" on the Main Stage of the [[59th Munich Security Conference]] in 2023]]

The [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] and its impact was at the center of most discussions in Munich. In addition, a wide range of security policy issues were discussed. A major concern of the new MSC chairman, [[Christoph Heusgen]], was to include the so-called [[Global South]] more into the conference in order to discuss and enable global visions. The first panel discussion on Saturday morning was dedicated to this topic.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Defending the UN Charter and the Rules-Based International Order - Munich Security Conference |url=https://securityconference.org/en/msc-2023/agenda/event/defending-the-un-charter-and-the-rules-based-international-order/ |access-date=27 March 2023 |website=securityconference.org |language=en-GB}}</ref> Other cross-cutting issues were climate change, food insecurity and energy security, as well as regional and country-specific topics, including Iran, the Horn of Africa and Russia.

Notably, at the 2023 Munich Security Conference, billionaire investor [[George Soros]] commented that the financial troubles of the [[Adani Group]] could weaken Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]]’s hold on India’s government, potentially paving the way for institutional reforms. This statement provoked a strong response from India’s [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]], which accused Soros of attempting to undermine India's democracy.<ref>By Reuters, "India's BJP slams Soros for saying Adani's troubles will weaken Modi," Reuters, 17 February 2023, accessed 4 October 2024, https://www.reuters.com/world/india/indias-bjp-slams-soros-saying-adanis-troubles-will-weaken-modi-2023-02-17/.</ref>

===2024===
{{Main|60th Munich Security Conference}}

[[File:Radosław Sikorski wziął udział w 60. Monachijskiej Konferencji Bezpieczeństwa (2).jpg|thumb|Polish Foreign Minister [[Radosław Sikorski]] with Chinese Foreign Minister [[Wang Yi (politician)|Wang Yi]] at the 60th Munich Security Conference in 2024]]

The 60th Munich Security Conference took place from 16 to 18 February 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 February 2024 |title=Eurovision Services: Munich Security Conference 2024 |url=https://www.eurovision.net/events/news/no-category/53700/details |access-date=20 January 2024 |website=www.eurovision.net |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=13 December 2023 |title=Munich Security Conference |url=https://www.womenpoliticalleaders.org/event/munich-security-conference/ |access-date=20 January 2024 |website=Women Political Leaders |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=MSC 2024 - Munich Security Conference |url=https://securityconference.org/en/msc-2024/ |access-date=20 May 2024 |website=securityconference.org |language=en-GB}}</ref> The motto “Lose-Lose?”,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The 'Munich Spirit': What to expect from this year's security conferences |url=https://therecord.media/munich-security-and-cybersecurity-conference-2024-what-to-expect |access-date=20 May 2024 |website=therecord.media}}</ref> title of the according Munich Security Report,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Munich Security Report 2024 |url=https://securityconference.org/en/publications/munich-security-report-2024/ |access-date=20 May 2024 |website=securityconference.org |language=en-GB}}</ref> also referred as central theme to the conference: The need to reshape the global order for the benefit of all as an inclusive alternative to the growing “lose-lose” dynamics of [[isolationism]].<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Lupel |first1=Adam |last2=Russo |first2=Jenna |date=5 March 2024 |title=Global Order on the Line: War, Law, and Humanity at the Munich Security Conference |url=https://theglobalobservatory.org/2024/03/global-order-on-the-line-war-law-and-humanity-at-the-munich-security-conference/ |access-date=20 May 2024 |website=IPI Global Observatory |language=en-US}}</ref> Judging by the debate in Munich, implementing reform proposals requires more political will.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Baker |first=Peter |date=15 February 2024 |title=In Munich, Harris Aims to Reassure European Allies as Trump Disparages NATO |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/15/us/politics/kamala-harris-munich.html |access-date=20 May 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Almost 1,000 participants from 109 countries included 45 heads of state and government. At the 60 main events, more than half of the speakers were female and over a quarter represented countries of the [[Global North and Global South|Global South]]. Over 200 side events were hosted by public and private organizations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Munich Security Report 2024 |url=https://securityconference.org/en/publications/munich-security-report-2024/ |access-date=20 May 2024 |website=securityconference.org |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Israeli President [[Isaac Herzog]] and Foreign Minister [[Israel Katz]] attended the Munich Conference in the midst of the ongoing [[Gaza war]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Israel-Hamas war looms large at Munich Security Conference 2024 |url=https://jewishinsider.com/2024/02/munich-security-forum-2024-herzog-harris-livni-blinken/ |work=Jewish Insider |date=16 February 2024}}</ref>

===2025===
{{Main|61st Munich Security Conference}}

[[File:20250215 MSC2025 th5444.jpg|thumb|[[Mélanie Joly]], Panel Discussion at Munich Security Conference 2025, München, 15.02.2025]]
[[File:20250215 MSC2025 kd5364.jpg|thumb|[[David Lammy]], Panel Discussion at Munich Security Conference 2025, München, 15.02.2025]]
The 61st Munich Security Conference took place from 14 to 16 February 2025.<ref name="DW2025">{{Cite web |date=14 February 2025 |title=MSC 2025: Vance speech aggravates Europeans |url=https://www.dw.com/en/msc-2025-vance-speech-aggravates-europeans/live-71599568 |website=[[Deutsche Welle]]}}</ref> Based on the ''Munich Security Report 2025''<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-14 |title=Munich Security Report |url=https://securityconference.org/en/publications/munich-security-report/ |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=securityconference.org |language=en}}</ref> published in advance, the conference's motto was "multipolarization" – summing up the current global changes and challenges''.'' A series of U.S. statements at the conference sparked controversy and unrest among the attending European politicians.<ref name="BBC Gardner">{{cite news |last=Gardner |first=Frank |date=17 February 2025 |title=Five takeaways from the Munich Security Conference|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx242lw21jwo |access-date=22 February 2025}}</ref> 
[[File:20250214 MSC2025 mc2931.jpg|thumb|[[JD Vance|J.D. Vance]] during his [[2025 JD Vance speech at the Munich Security Conference|speech at the Munich Security Conference 2025]], München, 14.02.2025]]
U.S. Vice President [[JD Vance]] criticised the organisers of the Munich Security Conference for having "banned lawmakers representing populist parties on both the left and the right from participating in these conversations" in a speech at the conference, adding that "we don’t have to agree with everything or anything that people say. But when political leaders represent an important constituency, it is incumbent upon us to at least participate in dialogue with them".<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 February 2025 |title=JD Vance's Munich security conference speech in full |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2025/02/14/jd-vance-munich-security-conference-speech-in-full/ |work=The Telegraph}}</ref> His remarks that free speech in Europe was "in retreat" faced pushback from some European officials,<ref name="DW2025" /> such as Chancellor [[Olaf Scholz]], Opposition Leader and future Chancellor [[Friedrich Merz]], Vice Chancellor [[Robert Habeck]],<ref name="wel25">{{Cite news |date=15 February 2025 |title='Kümmere dich um deinen eigenen Kram', pöbelt Habeck |trans-title='Take care of your own stuff', Habeck rebukes |url=https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article255442658/Reaktionen-auf-Vance-Rede-Kuemmere-dich-um-deinen-eigenen-Kram-poebelt-Habeck.html |access-date=16 February 2025 |work=Welt |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=15 February 2024 |title=Friedrich Merz fordert USA auf, Wahlergebnisse zu akzeptieren |trans-title=Friedrich Merz calls on the United States to accept election results |url=https://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2025-02/einmischung-bundestagswahl-usa-friedrich-merz-muenchner-sicherheitskonferenz |access-date=16 February 2025 |work=Zeit Online |language=de |quote={{lang|de|Merz sagte weiter: 'Es sei nicht denkbar, dass die deutsche Bundesregierung bestimmte Medien von Pressekonferenzen ausschließen würde.' Die US-Regierung lässt die Nachrichtenagentur AP nicht mehr zu Konferenzen im Oval Office zu.}} ({{translation|Merz went on to say: 'It is inconceivable that the German federal government would exclude certain media from press conferences.' The US government no longer allows the AP news agency to conference in the Oval Office.}})}}</ref> and Minister for Foreign [[Annalena Baerbock]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 February 2025 |title=German foreign minister rejects Vance comments on far-right AfD |url=https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/world/german-foreign-minister-rejects-vance-comments-on-far-right-afd/ar-AA1z3zlx |access-date=16 February 2025 |work=MSN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=15 February 2025 |title=Baerbock weist Vance zurück und lobt 'wehrhafte Demokratie' in Europa |trans-title=Baerbock rejects Vance and praises 'defensive democracy' in Europe |url=https://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2025-02/sicherheitskonferenz-muenchen-annalena-baerbock-jd-vance |access-date=16 February 2025 |work=MSN}}</ref> collectively representing three political parties. [[Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann]] of the centre-right [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|Free Democratic Party]] called Vance's speech a "bizarre intellectual bottom".<ref name="wel25" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-14 |title=Speech by JD Vance and Selected Reactions |url=https://securityconference.org/en/publications/books/key-speeches-volume-ii-jd-vance-msc-2025/ |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=securityconference.org |language=en}}</ref>

Key conclusions from the conference included the need for NATO’s European members to significantly increase their [[military budget|defense spending]] and take on the primary responsibility for military funding for Ukraine, rather than relying on the U.S. Additionally, the U.S. and Russia aim to negotiate a deal to end the [[Russo-Ukrainian War|war in Ukraine]].<ref name="BBC Gardner"/>

=== 2026 ===
The 62nd Munich Security Conference is scheduled to take place from 13 to 15 February 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Munich Security Conference - Munich Security Conference |url=https://securityconference.org/en/msc/ |access-date=2025-11-18 |website=securityconference.org |language=en}}</ref>

==Events==
[[File:20250507 mlm dc 5421.jpg|thumb|[[JD Vance|US Vice President JD Vance]], participating in a Q&A session with [[Wolfgang Ischinger]], President of the MSC Foundation Council, at the Munich Leaders Meeting in Washington, DC, 07.05.2025]]In addition to the main conference in February, the Munich Security Conference hosts a variety of events and networks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Events - Munich Security Conference |url=https://securityconference.org/en/events/ |access-date=25 May 2023 |website=securityconference.org |language=en-GB}}</ref> 

===Munich Leaders Meetings===
In addition to the main conference, a series of events, the MSC Munich Leaders Meetings (previously: Core Group Meetings),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Munich Leaders Meetings - Munich Security Conference |url=https://securityconference.org/en/events/munich-leaders-meetings/ |access-date=28 September 2022 |website=securityconference.org |language=en-GB}}</ref> were launched in November 2009 in [[Washington, DC]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009 |title=Under Secretary Robert Hormats Addresses Washington Security Conference |url=http://m.state.gov/md132005.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821104837/http://m.state.gov/md132005.htm |archive-date=21 August 2016 |access-date=28 June 2016 |publisher=U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE}}</ref> The meetings provide a select group of participants the opportunity to discuss key issues of international security policy in order to continue the work of the Security Conference and provide impulses.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009 |title=MSC Core Group Meeting in Washington, D.C. (2009) |url=https://www.securityconference.de/de/aktivitaeten/core-group-meetings/msc-core-group-meeting-in-washington-dc-2009/ |access-date=28 June 2016 |publisher=Munich Security Conference |language=de}}</ref> The location of the Core Group Meetings always varies. 
===Munich Strategy Retreats===
A select group of 30-50 experts, leaders and thinkers who come together in a private setting to develop recommendations on the latest security challenges.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Munich Strategy Retreats - Munich Security Conference |url=https://securityconference.org/en/events/munich-strategy-retreats/ |access-date=28 September 2022 |website=securityconference.org |language=en-GB}}</ref>

===Roundtables===
Regular roundtable events take place with varying numbers of participants, both as part of international meetings and events and as independent events. Several roundtables can be organized in the form of a "summit" and individual "conversations" can also be held in virtual form. The thematic focus ranges from European defense policy to cyber security and human security issues.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Summits, Roundtables & Conversations - Munich Security Conference |url=https://securityconference.org/en/events/summits-roundtables-conversations/ |access-date=28 September 2022 |website=securityconference.org |language=en-GB}}</ref>

===Security Innovation Board===
In 2021, the MSC Security Innovation Board was launched, bringing together a group of experts from the technology and defense policy sectors to promote exchange on innovation in the security policy field.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Security Innovation Board |url=https://securityconference.org/en/about-us/security-innovation-board/ |access-date=28 September 2022 |website=securityconference.org |language=en-GB}}</ref>

===Zeitenwende on tour===
A discussion format for the exchange of views on security policy between citizens and representatives from politics, academia, and society, supplemented by the ''Zeitenwende podcast''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-07 |title=Zeitenwende on tour {{!}} Munich Security Conference |url=https://www.deutschland.de/en/topic/politics/zeitenwende-on-tour-munich-security-conference |access-date=2025-11-18 |website=www.deutschland.de |language=en}}</ref>

==Awards and networks==
Awards and support programs initiated by the MSC.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Awards and Networks - Munich Security Conference |url=https://securityconference.org/en/about-us/awards-and-networks/ |access-date=2025-11-18 |website=securityconference.org |language=en}}</ref>

=== Ewald von Kleist Award ===
Since 2009, the award has been given to individuals who made a special contribution to peace and conflict resolution. The laureates receive a medal with the inscription "Peace through Dialogue", as recently [[John McCain]] (2018), [[Alexis Tsipras]] and [[Zoran Zaev]] (2019), the [[United Nations]] (2020), [[Angela Merkel]] (2021), [[Jens Stoltenberg]] (2022), [[Finland]] and [[Sweden]] (2023), as well as [[Mia Mottley|Mia Amor Mottley]] and [[John Kerry|John F. Kerry]] (2024).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ewald von Kleist Award - Munich Security Conference |url=https://securityconference.org/en/kleist-award/ |access-date=15 January 2023 |website=securityconference.org |language=en-GB}}</ref>

===John McCain Dissertation Award===
Beginning in 2019, and alongside the conferences, up to two political science dissertations are being honored that focus on transatlantic relations. The award is given in memory of John McCain together with the partners "Munich School of Public Policy", "Geschwister-Scholl-Institut", "University of the Federal Armed Forces", and the McCain Institute. Among other things, the award grants participation in MSC events and a prize money of up to 10,000 Euros.<ref>{{Cite web |title=John McCain Dissertation Award - Munich Security Conference |url=https://securityconference.org/en/mccain-award/ |access-date=15 January 2023 |website=securityconference.org |language=en-GB}}</ref>[[File:MYL Treffen New York 2019.jpg|thumb|Munich Young Leaders in New York City, 2019[[File:MSC 2020 Marietje Schaake.jpg|thumb|Munich Young Leader [[Marietje Schaake]] speaks on a panel discussion at the [[56th Munich Security Conference]].]]]]

===MSC Women Parliamentarians Program===
Starting with the Munich Security Conference 2023, the Women Parliamentarians Program aims to establish a network to connect the new generation of female decision-makers from the German Bundestag and the European Parliament. A select group of cross-party elected officials engages in a variety of formats throughout the course of a year in order to generate new ideas in German foreign, security, and development policy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MSC Women Parliamentarians Program |url=https://securityconference.org/en/msc-women-parliamentarians-program/ |access-date=3 May 2023 |website=securityconference.org |language=en-GB}}</ref>

===Munich Young Leaders===
In 2009, the Munich Young Leaders was first launched in cooperation with the [[Körber Foundation]]. Held in parallel to the Security Conference, this annual roundtable series is designed to directly involve the next generation of decision-makers into the main conference proceedings.<ref name="Historisches Lexikon" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Munich Young Leaders 2009 |url=http://www.koerber-stiftung.de/en/international-affairs/munich-young-leaders/round-tables/round-table-2009.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812135350/http://www.koerber-stiftung.de/en/international-affairs/munich-young-leaders/round-tables/round-table-2009.html |archive-date=12 August 2016 |access-date=28 June 2016 |publisher=Körber-Stiftug}}</ref> The Roundtable agendas as well as the participants and speakers lists are published online.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Munich Young Leaders |url=https://www.koerber-stiftung.de/en/munich-young-leaders |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812114312/https://www.koerber-stiftung.de/en/munich-young-leaders |archive-date=12 August 2016 |access-date=8 September 2020 |publisher=Körber-Stiftung}}</ref>

==Publications==
Often in collaboration with partner organizations, regular security policy publications report, comment and inform on current events, debates and developments: ''Munich Security Briefs'' and ''Debriefs'', ''Munich Security Analyses'', ''Munich Security Opinions'' as well as special editions and books.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Publications - Munich Security Conference |url=https://securityconference.org/en/publications/ |access-date=2025-11-18 |website=securityconference.org |language=en}}</ref> 

Key publications are the annual ''Munich Security Report'' (MSR)'','' the ''Munich Security Index'' (MSI), and the ''Selected Key Speeches'' series.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Multipolarization – Munich Security Report 2025 |url=https://polycrisis.org/resource/multipolarization-munich-security-report-2025/ |access-date=2025-11-18 |website=Polycrisis |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Books {{!}} Munich Security Conference |url=https://securityconference.org/en/publications/books/ |access-date=2025-11-18 |website=securityconference.org |language=en}}</ref>

==Former events==
Some events and distinct formats have transformed, evolved and/or changed names and purposes in the course of time. 

===Core Group Meetings===
After the launch in 2009, the subsequent events took place in [[Moscow]] in 2010,<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 October 2010 |title=Rede von Staatsminister Werner Hoyer bei der Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz (MCG Core Group Meeting) in Moskau (19.-20.10.2010) |url=http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/DE/Infoservice/Presse/Reden/2010/101020-Hoyer-Moskau.html |access-date=28 June 2016 |publisher=Auswärtiges Amt}}</ref> [[Beijing]] in 2011,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zhang Yue |date=22 November 2011 |title=Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz sucht nach Dialog und Vertrauen mit China |url=http://german.china.org.cn/international/2011-11/22/content_23981271.htm |access-date=28 June 2016 |publisher=China Internet Information Center |language=de}}</ref> as well as [[Doha]] in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 May 2013 |title=Munich security conference to focus on Gulf challenges |url=http://www.gulf-times.com/Qatar/178/details/352998/Munich-security-conference-to-focus-on-Gulf-challenges |access-date=28 June 2016 |publisher=Gulf Times}}</ref> A second meeting was held for the first time in 2013 in Washington, DC. The location of the 2014 Core Group Meeting was [[New Delhi]]. The issues discussed in New Delhi were the threats of terrorism and cyber-attacks, questions of maritime security, regional and global security structures and concepts for new [[global governance]]. 
The Core Group Meeting 2015 was held in [[Vienna]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 June 2015 |title=Sicherheitskonferenz: Neue Friedensordnung in Wien gesucht |url=http://derstandard.at/2000016849385/Sicherheitskonferenz-Neue-Friedensordnung-in-Wien-gesucht |access-date=28 June 2016 |publisher=Der Standard |language=de}}</ref> The [[Russo-Ukrainian war]] was a central theme of the meeting, which featured the Ukrainian Foreign Minister [[Pavlo Klimkin]] and the Russian deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Meshkov. Klimkin urged the European states to confront the Russian government head-on.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Christoph Prantner, Manuel Escher |date=16 June 2015 |title=Sicherheitskonferenz: Debatte über Rüstzeug für Krieg und Frieden |url=http://derstandard.at/2000017567178/Sicherheitskonferenz-Debatte-ueber-Ruestzeug-fuer-Krieg-und-Friede |access-date=28 June 2016 |publisher=Der Standard |language=de}}</ref> The Austrian Foreign Minister [[Sebastian Kurz]] stated that any border changes in Europe were "unacceptable", but at the same time stressed the need for cooperation with Russia. While the Swiss Foreign Minister [[Didier Burkhalter]] proposed a neutral status for Ukraine,<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 July 2015 |title=Neutralitätsstatus für die Ukraine |url=http://www.nzz.ch/schweiz/neutralitaetsstatus-fuer-die-ukraine-1.18565263 |access-date=28 June 2016 |work=Neue Zürcher Zeitung |language=de}}</ref> the Serbian Foreign Minister [[Ivica Dačić]] as [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|OSCE]] Chairman called for a strengthening of his organization in order to prevent future conflicts.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 June 2015 |title=Eine vereinte, demokratische und europäische Ukraine? |url=https://www.securityconference.de/news/article/a-ukraine-united-democratic-and-european/ |access-date=28 June 2016 |publisher=Munich Security Conference |language=de}}</ref> 

Another Core Group Meeting took place in [[Tehran]] in October 2015. Key topics of the meeting were the implementation of the [[Vienna Document|Vienna Agreement]] concerning the [[Iranian nuclear program]] and the political situation in the region. German Foreign Minister Steinmeier, who opened the conference together with the [[List of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Iran|Iranian Foreign Minister]] [[Mohammad Javad Zarif|Zarif]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 October 2015 |title=Steinmeier visits Tehran |url=http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/EN/AAmt/BM-Reisen/2015/10-IRN-KSA-JOR/151017_Iran.html |access-date=9 January 2017 |publisher=Federal Foreign Office}}</ref><ref name="Berg">{{Cite web |last=Daniel Friedrich Sturm |date=18 October 2015 |title=Wenn Berg und Berg nicht zusammenkommen |url=https://www.welt.de/politik/deutschland/article147735802/Wenn-Berg-und-Berg-nicht-zusammenkommen.html |access-date=9 January 2017 |publisher=Welt |language=de}}</ref> emphasized the importance of transparency and trust for the successful implementation of the Vienna agreement:<ref>{{Cite news |last=Majid Sattar |date=18 October 2015 |title=Nach der Krise ist vor der Krise |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/ausland/naher-osten/steinmeier-in-teheran-nach-der-krise-ist-vor-der-krise-13863173.html?printPagedArticle=true#pageIndex_2 |access-date=9 January 2017 |work=Faz.net |publisher=Frankfurter Allgemeine |language=de}}</ref> "After the game is before the game".<ref name="Berg" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=17 October 2015 |title=Speech by Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Munich Security Conference Core Group Meeting in Tehran |url=http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/EN/Infoservice/Presse/Reden/2015/151017_Teheran.html?nn=484216 |access-date=9 January 2017 |publisher=Federal Foreign Office}}</ref>

In April 2016, another MSC Core Group Meeting took place in the [[Ethiopia]]n capital [[Addis Ababa]]. The security situation in Africa, the fight against international terrorism, and the challenges posed by climate change and [[epidemic]]s were central themes of the meeting.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ludger Schadomskys |date=18 April 2016 |title=Gemeinsam gegen Terror und Gewalt: Die Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz in Afrika |url=http://www.dw.com/de/gemeinsam-gegen-terror-und-gewalt-die-m%C3%BCnchner-sicherheitskonferenz-in-afrika/a-19196224 |access-date=13 January 2017 |publisher=Deutsche Welle |language=de}}</ref> The Ethiopian Foreign Minister [[Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus]] stressed the mutual global interdependencies in all of these issues.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 April 2016 |title=The Munich Security Conference kicks-off: "The First of its kind in Africa" |url=http://aethiopien-botschaft.de/?p=3224 |access-date=13 January 2017 |publisher=Embassy of the Ethiopia, Berlin}}</ref> Other participants included Ethiopian Prime Minister [[Hailemariam Desalegn]], former [[Nigeria]]n President [[Olusegun Obasanjo]], [[Smaїl Chergui]], [[African Union Commission]]er,<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 April 2016 |title=Munch Security Conference underway in Addis |url=http://www.ebc.et/web/ennews/-/munch-security-conference-underway-in-addis |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013215117/http://www.ebc.et/web/ennews/-/munch-security-conference-underway-in-addis |archive-date=13 October 2016 |access-date=13 January 2017 |publisher=Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref> former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and former German President [[Horst Köhler]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ludger Schadomsky |date=13 April 2016 |title=Ischinger: "Sicherheit in und für Afrika ganz oben auf der Tagesordnung" |url=http://www.dw.com/de/ischinger-sicherheit-in-und-f%C3%BCr-afrika-ganz-oben-auf-der-tagesordnung/a-19184751 |access-date=13 January 2017 |publisher=Deutsche Welle |language=de}}</ref>

Another Core Group Meeting was held in [[Beijing]] in November 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How to make people think? MSC Core Group Meeting in Beijing discusses China's international role |url=https://www.merics.org/en/events/event-reports/munich-security-conference-core-group-meeting-in-beijing/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808153624/https://www.merics.org/en/events/event-reports/munich-security-conference-core-group-meeting-in-beijing/ |archive-date=8 August 2017 |access-date=13 January 2017 |publisher=Mercator Institute for China Studies}}</ref> Key topics of the meeting were China's role in the international order, conflicts in the Asia-Pacific region and the geopolitical importance of the "[[Silk Road#New Silk Road|New Silk Road]]".<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 November 2016 |title=Vietnam, China beef up defence ties |url=http://en.hanoi.vietnamplus.vn/Home/Vietnam-China-beef-up-defence-ties/201611/6128.vnplus |access-date=13 January 2017 |publisher=Vietnam News Agency}}</ref> Deputy Chinese Foreign Minister, [[Zhang Yesui]], stressed in his opening speech the importance of dialogue and cooperation for the security of the region.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 November 2016 |title=Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui Attends Opening Ceremony of Core Group Meeting of Munich Security Conference and Delivers a Speech |url=http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/wjbxw/t1412790.shtml |access-date=13 January 2017 |publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China}}</ref> During the core group meeting, [[Vice President of the People's Republic of China|Chinese Vice President]] [[Li Yuanchao]], reaffirmed his country's willingness to contribute to peace and security globally.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 November 2017 |title=Chinas stellvertretender Staatspräsident trifft MSC-Vertreter |url=http://german.china.org.cn/txt/2016-11/04/content_39639134.htm |access-date=13 January 2017 |publisher=China Internet Information Center |language=de}}</ref> Other participants included [[Fu Ying]], chairwoman of the [[National People's Congress Foreign Affairs Committee]], [[Louise Mushikiwabo]], [[Rwanda]]n [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Rwanda)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]], Markus Ederer, secretary of state at the [[German Foreign Office]], [[Tom Enders]], CEO of [[Airbus|Airbus Group]], and several members of the [[Bundestag]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 November 2016 |title=We cannot harm the security of other countries in pursuit of our own |url=https://www.securityconference.de/en/news/article/we-cannot-harm-the-security-of-other-countries-in-pursuit-of-our-own-1/ |access-date=13 January 2017 |publisher=Munich Security Conference}}</ref>

===Cyber Security Summit===
In 2012, the first Cyber Security Summit was held in cooperation with [[Deutsche Telekom]] in [[Bonn]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Achim Sawall |date=13 September 2012 |title=Kongress der Telekom ruft nach Cyber-Wehr |url=http://www.golem.de/news/cyber-security-summit-kongress-der-telekom-gegen-backdoors-und-fuer-cyber-wehr-1209-94533.html |access-date=6 August 2016 |website=golem.de |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Erster Cyber Security Summit 2012 in Bonn |url=http://www.cybersecuritysummit.de/prev-2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819003403/http://www.cybersecuritysummit.de/prev-2012 |archive-date=19 August 2016 |access-date=6 August 2016 |publisher=Deutsche Telekom |language=de}}</ref> The first event was conducted under [[Chatham House Rule]]. According to media reports, the supervisory board chairman of Deutsche Bank, [[Paul Achleitner]], the head of the construction group [[Bilfinger]] Berger, [[Roland Koch]], as well as Peter Terium, the CEO of the energy supplier [[RWE]] and [[Johannes Teyssen]] of [[E.ON]] were in attendance.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Achim Sawall |date=23 July 2012 |title=Telekom startet geheimnisvolle Cyberwar-Konferenz |url=http://www.golem.de/news/muenchner-sicherheitskonferenz-telekom-startet-geheimnisvolle-cyberwar-konferenz-1207-93368.html |access-date=6 August 2016 |website=golem.de |language=de}}</ref>

During the summit several working groups analyzed existing cyber risks and dangers for energy, finances, health, logistics, media, and production.

On 11 November 2013 the second summit took place in Bonn. The gathering had the following four topics:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Summit 2013: Vier Themen im Fokus |url=http://www.cybersecuritysummit.de/prev-2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819023603/http://www.cybersecuritysummit.de/prev-2013 |archive-date=19 August 2016 |access-date=6 August 2016 |publisher=Deutsche Telekom |language=de}}</ref>

# Rebuilding trust in the digital society
# New threat scenarios for the economy
# Gaining trust, restoring trust
# Cyber defense is becoming a business-critical core skill

Unlike in 2012, the list of speakers was published:

* [[Neelie Kroes]], Vice-President (Digital Company) of the [[European Commission]]
* [[Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger]], German Federal Minister of Justice
* [[Johanna Mikl-Leitner]], Interior Minister of Austria
* Ambassador [[Wolfgang Ischinger]], Chairman of the Munich Security Conference Foundation gGmbH; Executive Vice President for Government Relations at [[Allianz]]
* [[Ehud Barak]], former Prime Minister of Israel
* [[Jürgen Stock]], Vice-President of the German Federal Criminal Police
* Scott Charney, Vice President of [[Microsoft]]
* Arthur W. Coviello, Jr., CEO of [[RSA Security]]
* Thomas Rid, lecturer at [[King's College London]]; author on issues of cyber security
* [[René Obermann]], CEO of [[Deutsche Telekom]]; Vice President of BITKOM e.V.
* [[Timotheus Höttges]], Chief Financial and controlling Officer of Deutsche Telekom AG; designated CEO
* Thomas Kremer, Director of Privacy, Legal Affairs and Compliance at Deutsche Telekom AG
* Klaus Schweinsberg, former editor of the business magazines [[Capital (German magazine)|Capital]] and [[Impulse (German magazine)|Impulse]]; Founder and director of the Center for Strategy and senior management

The third summit was held on 3 November 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kontinuität für mehr Cyber-Sicherheit |url=http://www.cybersecuritysummit.de/prev-2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821224259/http://www.cybersecuritysummit.de/prev-2014 |archive-date=21 August 2016 |access-date=6 August 2016 |publisher=Deutsche Telekom |language=de}}</ref> It was attended by 180 representatives from the fields of politics, economy, EU and NATO.<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 November 2014 |title=Täglich eine Million Attacken |url=https://www.taz.de/!148823/ |access-date=6 August 2016 |work=Die Tageszeitung: Taz |publisher=taz |language=de}}</ref> In his opening speech, Telekom CEO Höttges highlighted the growing number of attacks on data and digital infrastructures, where the Telekom network recorded 1 Million attacks daily. He quoted a [[Center for Strategic and International Studies|CSIS]] study that estimated the global damage caused by cybercrime to be US$575 billion per year. To protect European data against access by US authorities, Höttges called for a revision of the [[International Safe Harbor Privacy Principles|Safe Harbor Agreement]]. The intelligence coordinator of the federal government, [[Klaus-Dieter Fritsche]], supported Höttges demands.<ref name="million">{{Cite web |date=3 November 2014 |title=Eine Million Attacken pro Tag: Telekom fürchtet immer mehr Cyber-Angriffe |url=http://www.n-tv.de/wirtschaft/Telekom-fuerchtet-immer-mehr-Cyber-Angriffe-article13892991.html |access-date=6 August 2016 |publisher=n-tv |language=de}}</ref>

MSC Chairman Ischinger described the great geopolitical importance of cyber security as a result of the [[Russo-Ukrainian war]], which had marked the return of war as political means in Europe.<ref name="Chefs">{{Cite web |last=Matthias von Hein |date=4 November 2014 |title=Cyber Security: Die Chefs und das Netz |url=http://www.dw.de/cyber-security-die-chefs-und-das-netz/a-18037928 |access-date=6 August 2016 |publisher=Deutsche Welle |language=de}}</ref> State Secretary [[Brigitte Zypries]] stated the planned IT Security Act in which the reporting of cyber attacks on companies from sensitive sectors was an obligation as the contribution by the German Federal Government to increase data security.<ref name="million" /> [[Andy Mueller-Maguhn]], a former spokesman for the [[Chaos Computer Club]], stressed the importance of strong encryption for data security and warned of the "back doors", like those that [[RSA Security]] installed for the [[National Security Agency|NSA]].<ref name="Chefs" /> [[Elmar Brok]], Chairman of the [[European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs]], and [[Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg]] urged to ward off cyber attacks with offensive actions and stressed the need for a deterrence component.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Torsten Kleinz |date=3 November 2014 |title=Cyber Security Summit: "Der Krieg ist nach Europa zurückgekehrt" |url=http://www.heise.de/security/meldung/Cyber-Security-Summit-Der-Krieg-ist-nach-Europa-zurueckgekehrt-2441236.html |access-date=6 August 2016 |publisher=heise online |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jan Boris Wintzenburg |date=3 November 2014 |title=Abschreckung ist unverzichtbar |url=http://www.stern.de/politik/deutschland/guttenberg-auf-dem-cyber-security-summit-abschreckung-ist-unverzichtbar-2150020.html |access-date=6 August 2016 |publisher=Stern |language=de}}</ref> [[Ben Wizner]], representative of the [[American Civil Liberties Union]] and lawyer of [[Edward Snowden]],<ref name="Chefs" /> contradicted against those needs.<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 November 2014 |title=Guttenberg hält Genfer Konventionen für veraltet |url=http://www.zeit.de/digital/internet/2014-11/guttenberg-cyber-security-summit-stuxnet |access-date=6 August 2016 |work=Die Zeit |publisher=ZEIT ONLINE |language=de}}</ref> In separate working groups, the topics of Digital Defense, Cyber governance, Promotion of Innovation in regards to data security and preventive data protection were also discussed.

The fourth Cyber Security Summit was held on 19 and 20 September 2016 [[Palo Alto, California|Palo Alto]], [[Silicon Valley]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=4. Cyber Security Summit |url=http://www.cybersecuritysummit.de/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818222157/http://cybersecuritysummit.de/ |archive-date=18 August 2016 |access-date=6 August 2016 |publisher=Deutsche Telekom}}</ref> The summit was jointly convened by MSC, [[Deutsche Telekom]] and [[Stanford University]]. 140 representatives from the fields of politics, security and business participated in the gathering.<ref name="Silicon Valley">{{Cite web |last=Britta Weddeling |date=21 September 2016 |title=Gegen die Bedrohung aus dem Internet |url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/unternehmen/dienstleister/cyber-security-summit-gegen-die-bedrohung-aus-dem-internet/14582288.html |access-date=19 May 2017 |publisher=Handelsblatt |language=de}}</ref> A central theme of the meeting was the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 U.S. presidential election]] and its possible manipulation by cyber attacks.<ref name="Munich">{{Cite web |last=Christiane Hübscher |date=20 September 2016 |title=Angst in den USA: Hacken der Präsidentschaftswahl |url=https://www.siliconvalleystories.de/2016/09/20/angst-in-den-usa-hacken-der-pr%C3%A4sidentschaftswahl/ |access-date=19 May 2017 |website=Silicon Valley Stories |publisher=ZDF heute.de |language=de}}</ref> The chairman of the Munich Security Conference, Wolfgang Ischinger, expressed his fear that such attacks could damage confidence in democratic elections in general.<ref name="Silicon Valley" />

Further topics were the defense against [[cyberterrorism]], the future of [[war]]fare, the economic relevance of [[Cybercrime|cybersecurity]] and the development of norms and rules for the Internet.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 September 2016 |title=MSC und Deutsche Telekom: Cyber Security Summit im Silicon Valley |url=https://digitaler-mittelstand.de/technologie/news/msc-und-deutsche-telekom-cyber-security-summit-im-silicon-valley-25538 |access-date=19 May 2017 |publisher=Deutsche Telekom |language=de}}{{Dead link|date=March 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> MSC chairman [[Wolfgang Ischinger|Ischinger]] called for closer coordination between the worlds of politics and technology,<ref name="Munich" /> in order to create the basis for an open, free and secure web.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jörg Fleischer |date=26 September 2016 |title=Cyber Security Summit: Experten tagen im Sikicon Valley |url=https://www.bundeswehr.de/resource/resource/MzEzNTM4MmUzMzMyMmUzMTM1MzMyZTM2MzIzMDMwMzAzMDMwMzAzMDY5NzQ2YzMwNzMzMDM2MzYyMDIwMjAyMDIw/38_Gesamtausgabe-b.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314063109/https://www.bundeswehr.de/resource/resource/MzEzNTM4MmUzMzMyMmUzMTM1MzMyZTM2MzIzMDMwMzAzMDMwMzAzMDY5NzQ2YzMwNzMzMDM2MzYyMDIwMjAyMDIw/38_Gesamtausgabe-b.pdf |archive-date=14 March 2017 |access-date=19 May 2017 |publisher=Bundeswehr |language=de}}</ref>

In connection with the [[Internet of Things]], Marc Goodman from the American [[Think Tank]] [[Singularity University]] warned that "everything could be hacked". Goodman predicted the Internet would feature an "epic battle" of different interest groups.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 September 2016 |title="Epische Schlacht" um das Internet |url=https://www.computerwoche.de/a/epische-schlacht-um-das-internet,3323754 |access-date=19 May 2017 |publisher=Computerwoche |language=de}}</ref> [[Peter R. Neumann]] from [[King's College London]] described the hierarchical structure of law [[enforcement]] agencies as an organizational problem in [[combat]]ing cyber-crime, at odds with the de-centralized operating mode of the Internet.<ref name="Silicon Valley" />

Other participants included Dmitri Alperovitch, co-founder and CTO of CrowdStrike, [[Michael Chertoff]], former [[United States Department of Homeland Security]], chairman and founder of the Chertoff Group, [[Michael McFaul]], director of the [[Stanford University centers and institutes|Freeman Spogli Institute]] at [[Stanford University]] and former US Ambassador in Russia, and Iddo Moed, Coordinator of Cybersecurity for the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Israel)|Israeli Foreign Ministry]],<ref name="generation">{{Cite web |date=14 September 2016 |title=Cyber Security Summit im Silicon Valley |url=http://www.digitale-generation.de/it-sicherheit/cyber-security-summit-im-silicon-valley/30657/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314063628/http://www.digitale-generation.de/it-sicherheit/cyber-security-summit-im-silicon-valley/30657/ |archive-date=14 March 2017 |access-date=19 May 2017 |publisher=Digitale Generation |language=de}}</ref> Christopher Painter, Coordinator for Cyber Issues at the [[United States Department of State|US State Department]],<ref name="eastwest">{{Cite web |last=Tony Bricktua |date=21 September 2016 |title=EWI Examines Global Norms in Cyberspace at 4th Cyber Security Summit |url=https://www.eastwest.ngo/idea/ewi-examines-global-norms-cyberspace-4th-cyber-security-summit |access-date=19 May 2017 |website=eastwest.ngo |language=de}}</ref> Latha Reddy, former [[National Security Advisor (India)|National Security Adviser of India]] and currently a member of the [[Global Commission on Internet Governance]],<ref name="generation" /> as well as, [[Uri Rosenthal]], former [[List of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands|Dutch foreign minister]] and current Special Envoy of his country for cyber politics.<ref name="eastwest" />

===Energy Security Summit===
Together with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, the MSC has been organizing the Energy Security Summit since 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Energy Security |url=https://www.securityconference.de/en/activities/energy-security/ |access-date=20 August 2016 |publisher=Munich Security Conference}}</ref> The first meeting was held on 10 July 2013 in the ballroom of the [[Frankfurt]] [[Palmengarten]] under the auspices of [[Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy|Federal Economics and Technology Minister]] [[Philipp Rösler]] and [[Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety|Environment Minister]] [[Peter Altmaier]]. Other topics of the event were [[climate change]], the geostrategic consequences of [[Hydraulic fracturing|fracking]] and the German [[Energy transition]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tobias Bunde, Oliver Rolofs |date=July 2013 |title=Energy Security Summit 2013: "How to Feed and Secure the Global Demand?" |url=https://www.securityconference.de/en/activities/energy-security/energy-security-summit-2013-how-to-feed-and-secure-the-global-demand/ |access-date=20 August 2016 |publisher=Munich Security Conference}}</ref>

The second Energy Security Summit was held in [[Berlin]] on 27 and 28 May 2014. Key topics of the meeting included the "[[shale gas]] revolution" in the United States<ref>{{Cite web |title=Energy Security Summit 2014: The Next Great Game? Global Impacts of the Shale Revolution |url=http://www.faz-forum.com/security/energy_security_2014_program.pdf |access-date=20 August 2016 |publisher=Frankfurter Allgemeine Forum |language=de}}</ref> and the [[Russo-Ukrainian war|war in Ukraine]]. In his speech, Foreign Minister Steinmeier stressed the important role of [[energy policy]] for [[Foreign policy|foreign]] and [[security policy]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Frank-Walter Steinmeier |date=28 May 2014 |title=Rede von Außenminister Frank-Walter Steinmeier beim Second Energy Security Summit der Münchner Sicherheitskonferenz: "The Next Great Game? Global Impacts of the Shale Revolution" |url=http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/DE/Infoservice/Presse/Reden/2014/140528-Energy-Security-Summit.html |access-date=20 August 2016 |publisher=Auswärtiges Amt |language=de}}</ref> Steinmeier pushed for a European Energy Union and urged the EU countries to demonstrate unity with regard to the Russo-Ukrainian war. The minister stressed the need to make compromises in the Russia-Ukraine gas dispute,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Julian Staib |date=28 May 2014 |title=Steinmeier ruft Europa zu Geschlossenheit auf |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/energy-security-summit-2014-steinmeier-ruft-europa-zu-geschlossenheit-auf-12963060.html |access-date=20 August 2016 |work=Faz.net |publisher=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung |language=de}}</ref> and warned against too high expectations of substituting American shale gas for Russian gas supplies. [[European Commissioner for Energy|EU Energy Commissioner]] [[Günther Oettinger]] also spoke in favor of a European Energy Union with uniform gas prices. He also described Germany's energy policy as being in a "Romantic Valley”. The strategic issue of energy would require Germany to get involved with its technological and political competence, Oettinger stated.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Julian Staib |date=28 May 2014 |title=Oettinger weist Forderungen Kiews zurück |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/energiegipfel-in-berlin-oettinger-weist-krim-gas-forderungen-aus-kiew-zurueck-12962288.html |access-date=20 August 2016 |work=Faz.net |publisher=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung |language=de}}</ref> During the meeting, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yatsenyuk described the war in Ukraine as a "global security conflict" which only Russia would be responsible for. Yatsenyuk reiterated his country's refusal to pay a "political price" in exchange for gas supplies from Russia. The premier also expressed the willingness of his country to participate in a common energy policy with the EU.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Julian Staib |date=28 May 2014 |title=Für Poroschenko herrscht im Osten des Landes Krieg |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/fuer-poroschenko-herrscht-im-osten-des-landes-krieg-12963140.html |access-date=20 August 2016 |work=Faz.net |publisher=Franbkfurter Allgemeine Zeitung |language=de}}</ref>

The third Energy Security Summit was held on 5 and 6 May 2015, again in Berlin.{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}} During the meeting, Iranian Oil Minister [[Bijan Namdar Zangeneh]] laid out his country's plans for the development of the energy sector after the end of sanctions. After the previously reached deal to resolve the Iranian nuclear crisis, the Minister demanded the rapid lifting of the economic sanctions. He dashed hopes that Tehran would build a gas pipeline to Europe to weaken the dominant role of Russia in the European gas market, citing transit problems and costs.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Andreas Mihm |date=8 May 2015 |title=Deutsche Klimapolitik ist keine Blaupause für andere |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/energiewende/energiekonferenz-in-berlin-deutsche-klimapolitik-ist-keine-blaupause-fuer-andere-13580875.html |access-date=20 August 2016 |work=Faz.net |publisher=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung |language=de}}</ref> At the same time, the Minister announced that his government would invest US$180 billion in the Iranian oil and gas industry by 2022.{{cn|date=August 2021}} Other topics at the meeting included, among others, the proposed Energy Union in Europe, which both [[Maroš Šefčovič]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stephan Kohler |date=19 May 2015 |title=Die Europäisierung der Energiepolitik – ein Lippenbekenntnis |url=http://www.derhauptstadtbrief.de/cms/index.php/component/content/article/108-der-hauptstadtbrief-129/827-die-europaeisierung-der-energiepolitik-ein-lippenbekenntnis |access-date=20 August 2016 |publisher=Der Hauptstadtbrief |language=de}}</ref> Vice-President of the [[European Commission]], and Rainer Baake, Parliamentary State Secretary in the [[Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy]], called for, as well as the German energy transition.{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}} [[Bärbel Höhn]], chairman of the German Bundestag's Environment Committee, referred to it as an important contribution by Germany to the creation of a global structure of a decentralized energy supply, which reduces dependencies and contributes to security and peace.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sonya Angelica Diehn |date=12 May 2015 |title=Germany: Leader in a global energy transition? |url=http://www.dw.com/en/germany-leader-in-a-global-energy-transition/a-18444592 |access-date=20 August 2016 |publisher=Deutsche Welle}}</ref> Criticism came from Greenpeace head Kumi Naidoo, who stated that the high share of [[Lignite|brown coal]] used for electricity generation was the “Achilles heel” of Germany's energy policy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sonya Angelica Diehn |date=8 May 2015 |title=Naidoo: 'Coal is Germany's Achilles heel' |url=http://www.dw.com/en/naidoo-coal-is-germanys-achilles-heel/a-18439936 |access-date=20 August 2016 |publisher=Deutsche Welle}}</ref> Michael Fuchs, Deputy Chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, criticized the high burden placed on German citizens due to subsidies of 480 billion Euro earmarked for the energy transition.

==Criticism==
Speculations about one of the sponsors, the U.S. consultancy [[McKinsey & Company|McKinsey]], as secretly organizing the conference on behalf of the foundation and, according to ''[[Politico]]'',<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jr |first=Perry Bacon |date=8 September 2021 |title=Opinion {{!}} How the rise of Politico shifted political journalism off course |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/09/07/politico-rise-shifted-political-journalism-off-course/ |access-date=25 May 2023 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> wielding great influence on the conference's agenda, guests and events, were denied by McKinsey.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kartitschnig |first=Matthew |date=17 February 2023 |title=How McKinsey steers the Munich Security Conference |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/mckinsey-steers-munich-security-conference-german-government-mcleyen-berlin-von-der-leyen-suder-wolfgang-ischinger-joe-biden-nato/ |access-date=17 February 2023 |website=POLITICO |language=en-US}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Antalya Diplomacy Forum]]
* [[Halifax International Security Forum]]
* [[International relations]]
* [[International security]]
* [[Internationalism (politics)|Internationalism]]
* [[Nuclear Security Summit]]
* [[Pirate Security Conference]]
* [[Raisina Dialogue]]
* [[Shangri-La Dialogue]]
* [[Yalta European Strategy]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}

* {{Official website}}

{{Munich Security Conference}}
{{Portal bar|Germany|Politics}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Munich Security Conference| ]]
[[Category:Diplomatic conferences in Germany]]
[[Category:20th-century diplomatic conferences]]
[[Category:21st-century diplomatic conferences]]
[[Category:1963 establishments in West Germany]]
[[Category:Recurring events established in 1963]]
[[Category:Annual events in Munich]]
[[Category:Foreign relations of Germany]]
[[Category:Security in Germany]]