In the shadow of the war against Ukraine, the Munich Security Conference is taking place this weekend. In view of the “break in civilization”, conference leader Heusgen does not want to provide a forum for Kremlin propaganda – and bans Russian officials. Other politicians are also undesirable.
For the first time in decades, the Munich Security Conference will take place without Russian government participation. In view of the “break with civilisation” caused by the war of aggression against Ukraine, the propaganda of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his government did not want to be given a forum, said conference leader Christoph Heusgen when the program was presented. On the other hand, China is very well represented at the conference that begins this Friday. The top foreign politician, Wang Yi, is coming to Munich – and will also visit Russia before or afterward.
In addition to the Russian government, Iranian officials are also barred this year. Politicians of the AfD have also not received an invitation. Heusgen is deviating from the previous practice of inviting representatives of all parties represented in the Bundestag to Munich. The conference leader did not provide a reason. “This is a decision made by the chairman of the Munich Security Conference,” said Chancellor Angela Merkel’s former foreign policy adviser in response to a question.
The world’s most important security policy meeting of politicians and experts will take place from February 17th to 19th at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof. It is the first security conference since Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine began. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, among others, is expected in Munich from the Ukraine. In total, more than 40 heads of state and government and 90 ministers will be there, including US Vice President Kamala Harris, around a third of the US Senate, French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish President Andrzeij Duda.
With Wang Yi, for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic at the beginning of 2020, a high-ranking Chinese government representative is taking part in the top-level meeting in Munich. A foreign ministry spokesman said in Beijing that Wang will give a speech explaining China’s position on major international issues. It should also be about the war in Ukraine. China continues to back Putin in the conflict and portrays the US and NATO as the main culprits in the war.
The former, long-serving foreign minister was promoted to the Politburo in October, taking the top post above the foreign minister in China’s hierarchy of power. During his trip to Europe from this Tuesday to next Wednesday, Wang Yi will stop in Germany and Russia in France, Italy and Hungary. It is unclear in what order he visits Munich and Moscow.
Opposition figures from Russia and Iran have been invited to Munich instead of officials. The leadership in Tehran criticized her disinclusion. “This politically motivated decision by the conference is a miscalculation and sets the wrong standards,” said foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani, according to state broadcaster IRIB. If the goal of the conference is global and regional peace, then such selections are not only wrong, but also violate the political neutrality of the conference, Kanaani said.
In recent years, Iran’s foreign ministers have been regular guests in Munich. In recent months, Tehran has been repeatedly condemned internationally for its violent crackdown on the system-critical protests that have been going on for around five months. New sanctions were also imposed on the country. According to human rights activists, more than 500 people have been killed and almost 20,000 demonstrators arrested since the protests began in September 2022. On the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution at the weekend, Iran’s head of state Ayatollah Ali Khamenei pardoned tens of thousands of prisoners. Among them are said to be demonstrators who were arrested during the recent wave of protests.
According to a survey published by the Munich Security Conference, the Russian attack on Ukraine on February 24, 2022 is seen as a turning point in world history in almost all states selected for the survey. Heusgen said many governments would like Germany to play an even greater role in helping Ukraine. “Everywhere you get the feeling that Germany is not in the lead but is lagging behind.”
