The 61st Munich Security Conference took place in Munich, Germany, from February 14-16, 2025. One of its most striking features was the evident disagreement between the two factions of the West: the American and the European.
Origins and Evolution of the Munich Security Conference
The conference evolved from the “International Military Studies Meeting / Munich Military Studies Conference,” founded in 1963 by Ewald-Heinrich von Kleist-Schmenzin, a German publisher and former World War II officer. Von Kleist-Schmenzin and his family were staunch opponents of Hitler, and he was accused of attempting to assassinate Hitler in 1944 as part of the von Stauffenberg’s resistance circle.
Post-war Germany supported his initiative because it had transformed its political stance, rejecting militarism and instead aiming to regain its influence through diplomatic and economic means. Under American influence, figures like Konrad Adenauer, Germany’s first chancellor in 1949, opposed Hitler’s ideology and sought to integrate Germany into a peaceful global order.
Since 1963, the conference has been held annually in February, except in 1991 due to the First Gulf War and in 1997 due to the retirement of its founder. It serves as a forum for discussing current and future security challenges, with leaders and representatives from around 60 countries attending. Major powers use it as a platform to assert their policies and shape global opinion.
Shifting Agendas and Growing Divisions
At the 1992 session, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Western nations expressed relief over the dissolution of their longtime adversary. However, the United States, then the dominant global power, declared political Islam the new threat to the West. This perspective was voiced by then-U.S. Defense Secretary Dick Cheney, who later, as Vice President under George W. Bush, played a key role in the U.S. invasions of Afghanistan (2001) and Iraq (2003) under the framework of the “Greater Middle East Project.”
The conference has since witnessed growing rifts between the American and European factions. In 2003, France and Germany opposed the U.S. war on Iraq, forming an opposing axis with Russia. In 2015, another division emerged when the U.S., represented by Secretary of State John Kerry, advocated for arming Ukraine against Russia. France and Germany, however, sought a diplomatic resolution through the Minsk Agreement.
The 2025 Munich Conference: A Deepening Rift
At the 2025 session, tensions between America and Europe were more pronounced than ever. Germany sought to assert itself as Europe’s leader in countering American dominance. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier emphasized in his opening speech, “Germany will remain a reliable partner. You can count on us!… To our partners and friends, I say this clearly: German foreign and security policy will remain European, transatlantic, and multilateral… we will continue to pursue our interests, seek shared solutions, and broaden our international partnerships. And let me be absolutely clear: Europe plays a pivotal role in our policy.”
In response, U.S. Vice President JD Vance criticized European leaders, stating, “In Washington, there is a new sheriff in town. Under Donald Trump’s leadership, we may disagree with your views, but we will fight to defend your right to express them.” He accused European governments of suppressing free speech and democracy, adding, “If you’re running in fear of your own voters, there is nothing America can do for you.” He further asserted that America’s primary concern regarding Europe was not external threats like Russia or China but rather Europe’s internal retreat from its foundational values, which America shares.
Vance also expressed support for Germany’s far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party and met with its leader, Alice Weidel, in defiance of mainstream German politics. Notably, he did not meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a move interpreted as a snub and an implicit endorsement of far-right nationalism.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius countered Vance’s statements, calling his criticisms of European freedoms “unacceptable.” Meanwhile, Munich Security Conference Chair Christoph Heusgen lamented the growing divide, emotionally stating in his closing remarks, “This conference started as a transatlantic conference. After Vice President Vance’s speech on Friday, we should fear that our common value base is no longer so common anymore.”
The Underlying Power Struggle
The growing transatlantic discord stems from America’s continued efforts to maintain hegemony over Europe. The U.S. has historically sought to weaken European unity, supporting nationalist parties that oppose the European Union (EU) to encourage fragmentation—as seen in Brexit. Suspicions have long existed that the U.S. tacitly supports far-right movements in Germany and elsewhere in Europe to undermine EU cohesion. Trump’s administration has made these strategies more explicit.
Ultimately, the Munich Security Conference is not a forum for fostering peace but a battleground where global powers, particularly America and Europe, clash over influence, strategy, and ideological dominance.
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