The 61st session of the Munich Security Conference, the world’s largest and most important event of its kind, kicked off on Friday with the participation of over 60 heads of state and government, including His Highness the Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.
Among the high profile participants are German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, European Council President Antonio Costa, European Union Foreign Affairs Commissioner Kaja Kallas, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The conference also gathered US Vice-President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio along with nearly 100 foreign and defense ministers, and dozens of lawmakers and representatives of non-government organizations.
The Kuwaiti delegation to the conference is headed by His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah, who arrived in Munich yesterday.
Conference’s head Christoph Heusgen welcomed the attendees, urging them for a minute of silence for the victims of the car-ramming attack that took place in Munich on Thursday.
Heusgen affirmed the conference’s security role in bringing views and dialogue closer together to reach many solutions to conflicts in the world and challenges facing international group.
Meanwhile, Steinmeier gave an inaugural speech at the conference, condemning Thursday’s attacks and wishing that the participants would hold dialoged based on respect in order to discuss international crises and conflicts.
He pointed to the Ukrainian war and its security importance to Europe, saying the war caused new challenges to this continent.
He urged Europeans and the US to continue offering aid to Ukraine to help it face what he termed as “the Russian aggression”.
Furthermore, he criticized US President Donald Trump’s plan aiming to relocating Gazans, noting that he has noticed strong rejection during his recent visit to Jordan regarding this matter.
According to the agenda, the conference’s first day focuses on dozens activities and panel discussions on challenges facing international security topped with governance, democracy flexibility and climate security.
Moreover, the conference is set to discuss cybersecurity, geopolitical obstacles, external interference and international disputes, along some other key topics over the three days.
The three-day conference is being held this year in light of key international changes, including a new US administration and an early election in Germany as well as a new European Union legislative term.
Source: KUNA
