On February 17-19, Munich will host the 53rd Conference on Security, which will bring together about five hundred key world-scale politicians at one discussion platform to exchange views on the main military and political challenges the mankind is facing. The international order, disturbing the traditional Western elites, and strengthening anti-liberal forces, will be the main topic of discussion.
In particular, the future of transatlantic relations and NATO after the election of Donald Trump as the US president will be on the agenda. The organizers also consider the cooperation between the EU countries in the field of security and defense, the crisis in Ukraine and relations between the West and Russia, the war in Syria, the security situation in the Asia Pacific region, including in North Korea, as the most important topics of the conference. In addition, the participants of the conference will be focused on the fight against global terrorism, information warfare and the threats to global health and climate.
"The current global situation in the sphere of security policy is unstable, as perhaps never before since the end of the Second World War," the chairman of the Munich Security Conference, Wolfgang Ischinger, said. "A liberal order which has been taken for granted by many of us, is increasingly exposed to threats from inside and outside. Therefore, it is important for the politicians, responsible for the adoption of important international decisions, to gather together in Munich to discuss the strengthening of the foundation of liberalism and, thereby, respond to strongest challenges in the field of security policy of our time," Ischinger said.
Meanwhile, according to information received by the editorial board from the organizers of the conference, the final composition of the US delegation has not yet been determined. However, everything points to the active participation of the members of the new White House administration and the Congress. Some members of the new US cabinet have confirmed their participation: Pentagon chief James Mattis, the head of the Department of Homeland Security, General John Kelly, Senators John McCain and Sheldon Whitehouse will lead a large delegation of senators.
"Transatlantic relations were the focus of the Munich Security Conference since their formation in 1963. After only a few weeks after the inauguration of the new president Donald Trump, this conference offers an important opportunity to discuss the future joint work of Europe and the United States in the context of growing challenges. I hope that we bluntly, openly and honestly will discuss both differences in our opinions and common interests," Ischinger noted.
Russia will be represented at the 53rd Munich Conference by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov. Foreign Ministers of Turkey, Iran and Saudi Arabia will also arrive in Munich. All of these countries are the key players in the Syrian conflict and their meetings on the sidelines of the Munich conference could become a milestone on the road towards peace in Syria after the talks in Astana.
In addition, the UN secretary general, António Guterres, the President of the European Council Donald Tusk, the EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, the presidents of Poland, Ukraine and Afghanistan have already confirmed their participation in the conference. The Prime Ministers of Norway, Hungary and Iraq have also confirmed their arrival in Munich. The Foreign Ministers of China, France and the United Kingdom, Israel's defense minister and the head of the General Staff of the Pakistan Army will also participate in the 53rd Munich Security Conference. Germany will be represented by the Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen, the Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel and about 60 members of various parliamentary factions.
