At the close of last year’s Munich Security Conference, the outgoing chair, Wolfgang Ischinger, suggested that ‘deterrence, engaging, active diplomacy and signals of strength’ might dissuade Russia from invading Ukraine once more. Four days later, Russian military vehicles rolled into eastern Ukraine. Since then, assumptions about European security have been turned upside down.
The ongoing war in Ukraine will dominate the keynote speeches, panel discussions and drinks receptions as world leaders, ministers and experts mingle in Munich once again from February 17-19. It is expected that a particular spotlight will fall on NATO and Germany itself.
