The 61st session of the Munich Security Conference, the world’s largest and most influential gathering on international security, commenced on Friday with the participation of over 60 heads of state and government, including His Highness the Prime Minister of Kuwait, Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.
Among the high-profile participants were German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, European Council President Antonio Costa, European Union Foreign Affairs Commissioner Kaja Kallas, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The conference also saw the attendance of US Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, nearly 100 foreign and defense ministers, and dozens of lawmakers and representatives from non-governmental organizations.
Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Sabah, leading the Kuwaiti delegation, arrived in Munich on Thursday to attend the three-day event.
The head of the conference, Christoph Heusgen, opened the event by welcoming the attendees and holding a moment of silence in honor of the victims of a car-ramming attack in Munich on Thursday.
Heusgen emphasized the conference’s pivotal role in fostering dialogue and offering solutions to global conflicts and challenges facing the international community.
In his inaugural speech, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier condemned the recent attacks and stressed the importance of respectful dialogue among the participants to address global crises. He highlighted the ongoing war in Ukraine as a significant security concern for Europe and urged continued support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.
Steinmeier also criticized US President Donald Trump’s plan to relocate Gazans, noting that his recent visit to Jordan revealed strong opposition to the proposal.
The first day of the conference featured various activities and panel discussions focusing on pressing international security challenges, including governance, democratic resilience, and climate security. Over the next three days, topics such as cybersecurity, geopolitical obstacles, external interference, and international disputes will be explored in depth.
This year’s conference takes place amidst significant international developments, including the inauguration of a new US administration, an upcoming early election in Germany, and the start of a new European Union legislative term.
