The decision to exclude the Alternative for Germany (AfD) from the 2023 Munich Security Conference remains firmly justified, according to former Director Christoph Heusgen, who has publicly defended his actions. Speaking to the Tagesspiegel, Heusgen underscored the rationale behind the controversial move, citing the party’s walkout during a speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a key indicator of their unwillingness to engage in constructive dialogue – a principle central to the conference’s stated aim of “Peace through Dialogue.
Heusgen, who served as a long-time foreign and security policy advisor to former Chancellor Angela Merkel, emphasized that extending an invitation to a party demonstrably unwilling to listen represents a fundamental contradiction to the conference’s core values. His comments arrive as his successor, Wolfgang Ischinger, controversially reversed the decision, inviting AfD representatives to this year’s event.
Beyond the immediate context of the Zelenskyy speech, Heusgen pointed to a deeper, historical foundation for his decision. Citing the legacy of Ewald von Kleist, the founder of the Munich Security Conference, Heusgen reminded audiences of Kleist’s history of resistance against Nazi Germany. As Kleist’s successor, Heusgen stated he felt obligated to uphold that historical commitment by refusing to provide a platform to what he described as a party “partially assuredly right-wing extremist”. He explicitly denied extending “a red carpet” to the AfD.
“I can well imagine that Ewald von Kleist would have supported my decision against the AfD” Heusgen stated, implicitly suggesting that the current invitation reflects a departure from the conference’s foundational principles. The reappraisal of AfD’s inclusion has intensified debate surrounding the conference’s commitment to inclusivity versus the imperative to safeguard democratic values and the memory of those who fought against fascism. Some analysts suggest Ischinger’s move represents a bid to appear more neutral, while others worry it risks diluting the conference’s credibility and legitimizing extremist political positions.