Munich Security Conference 2024
Author: Ryan Baldry, Senior Communications Manager
The 2024 Munich Security Conference should have been all about Ukraine and increasing European Security but one piece of news shocked not only the conference but the diplomatic and foreign policy world: the death of Alexei Navalny and the words that followed from his wife Yulia Navalnaya. Yulia took to the stage moments after the news of Alexei’s death was announced. In her speech, she asked what Alexei would have done in her position, chose to stay and urged the conference to take action.
“I am asking everyone who is here to unite and help punish the Russian regime”.
The theme of this year’s conference was to address the rise of “Lose-Lose Dynamics” which are dominating geopolitics at the moment. With the current news and headlines around this conference, the title seemed fitting with the constant attacks on the current global rules based system.
This year’s conference was always going to be important for a number of reasons. Firstly, the current Biden Harris Administration was keen to show its commitment to European Security by sending a sizeable delegation to Munich featuring Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Blinken, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and a number of Representatives from the House and Senate. This show of force was to try and calm nerves in Europe following Donald Trumps comments about NATO potentially becoming a “two tier” membership organisation.
For Ukraine, this conference was another opportunity to secure more funding and ammunition so that it could continue to fight against the Russian invasion. Despite countless warm words, it is difficult to see if Zelensky was able to secure any more commitments or speed up the delivery of weapons and ammunition that had already been promised. This was however an opportunity for him to gently persuade the United States Congress of the importance of the aid package that is currently before the House and the stakes for his country if it is not passed.
From the UK, Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron led the delegation from the Government following his own push for the United States Congress to pass the Ukraine Aid package as soon as possible. Also in Munich was Leader of the Opposition Sir Keir Starker MP and Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy MP. For the Government, this was an opportunity for Lord Cameron to continue to meet with allies to discuss Ukraine and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East as well as warming up for the G20 Summit taking place in Brazil this week. For the Opposition Leadership, this was a chance for them to show their foreign policy credentials by meeting with potential future counterparts whilst showing their commitment to Ukraine.
The next stop on the whirlwind calendar of foreign policy is the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Rio de Janeiro on the 21st and 22nd February.
Cover image courtesy of Munich Security Conference.
