Closing the Munich Security Conference, outgoing chair Christoph Heusgen expressed a generally positive assessment of the event. “This was undoubtedly one of the most significant Munich Security Conferences” he said on Sunday. “More than 50 state and government leaders, around 150 ministers and approximately 30 heads of international organizations participated.”
The message from Munich is clear, Heusgen emphasized: “Europe is not a ‘nice to have’. Europe is a must.” As NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte put it, one must stop complaining about being left out and instead bring concrete ideas and spending commitments to the negotiating table. “This is the only way to actually secure a seat at the negotiating table” Heusgen added.
He also revisited the controversy surrounding US Vice President JD Vance’s speech, saying that the MSC started as a transatlantic conference, but “after US Vice President Vance’s speech on Friday, we must fear that our shared value base is no longer as common as we thought.” He expressed gratitude to all European politicians who spoke up and reaffirmed the values and principles they defend, Heusgen said.