Munich Security Conference: Merz lines up talks with US, China and Ukraine

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is planning a series of high-level bilateral meetings on the margins of the Munich Security Conference, which opens later this week.

According to Reuters, citing a German government representative, Merz is scheduled to meet separately with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Merz will formally open the annual forum with a keynote address in which he is expected to outline the core priorities of Germany’s foreign policy amid an increasingly complex global political environment and strained transatlantic relations.

“The chancellor has repeatedly made clear that he does not belong to those who believe we are in a situation where cooperation with the United States must — or even can — be abandoned,” the government representative said. “I expect him to set out what he sees as the way forward for transatlantic relations.”

The Munich Security Conference (MSC) is one of the world’s leading annual platforms for discussions on international security. Established in 1963, it brings together heads of state and government, foreign and defence ministers, senior policymakers, military leaders, and experts to address major global security challenges, including geopolitical tensions, defence cooperation, technological change, cyber threats, and international stability.

The 62nd Munich Security Conference will take place in Munich from February 13 to 15, 2026, with events hosted at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof and the Rosewood Munich. The gathering is expected to focus on a wide range of security issues, including Russia’s war in Ukraine, the future of transatlantic relations, nuclear security, hybrid threats, and emerging technologies.

The 2026 edition will also feature initiatives such as “Ukraine House,” a dedicated platform designed to highlight support for Ukraine and serve as a venue for discussions, side events, and briefings involving the Ukrainian delegation. Organisers expect around 1,000 participants from more than 115 countries, including approximately 60 heads of state and government, as well as leaders of major international organisations such as the EU, NATO, ASEAN, and the World Bank.

Alongside the main three-day conference, a number of related forums and side events are planned, including the Energy Security Hub, with discussions focusing on technology, energy resilience, and strategic partnerships, reflecting the broad range of global security challenges surrounding the event.

The conference will be framed by the Munich Security Report 2026, the MSC’s flagship publication, which sets the tone for the debates by highlighting shifts in global power dynamics, tensions within transatlantic relations, and their implications for Europe’s future security architecture.

In recent years, the MSC has increasingly emphasised the strategic consequences of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, and this issue is expected to remain central to the conference agenda in 2026.

By Tamilla Hasanova