Munich, 8 December 2021(TDI): Christoph Heusgen, Germany’s Coordinator for Foreign and Security Policy, has been elected as the next Chairman of the Munich Security Conference.
Being a well-known expert in international security policy, it is expected he will be an excellent leader for the conference.
The diplomat is to take over from Wolfgang Ischinger, who had chaired the conference since 2009. He will assume his duties after the upcoming conference in February 2022.
At the suggestion of our long-time Chairman @ischinger, the Foundation Council of the Munich Security Conference has elected Dr. Christoph Heusgen as the future chairman of @MunSecConf. https://t.co/m9iY7nydZq
— Munich Security Conference (@MunSecConf) December 6, 2021
History of the Conference
The Munich Security Conference was founded in 1962 and has been held annually since then. This was the case except for during the years of the Iraq War. It is a prestigious event for security policymakers and diplomats from around the world to meet and discuss international affairs.
The event is attended by heads of states and governments, ministers, military leaders, high-ranking officials from international organizations, journalists, and business representatives.
Traditionally known as The Internationale Wehrkundebegegnung (International Meeting of the Armed Forces), it was founded in 1958 and began as an annual event in 1959. In 1961 it was renamed Sicherheitspolitische Wende-Konferenz (Security Conference).
From 1962 onwards it took place every two years until it became an annual event again in 1987. The only exceptions are 2002 when there were no meetings because of the Afghanistan War.
The conferences are originally organized by the German Bundeswehr’s Operations Command in cooperation with the German Foreign Office.
Election
As for Heusgen, he has been Germany’s Coordinator for Foreign and Security Policy since 2013, which includes advising the Chancellor on important foreign policy issues. He also served as the UN ambassador to New York for Germany. He also showed his profound knowledge in the world of international relations and politics through many published books.
He has published many books on various aspects of international security policy. These include Democracy in Crisis: The Ethical Dilemma of Military Intervention (2007), Diplomatic Duty: Memoirs of a German Ambassador (2015), and Transforming Europe at Risk: The New Threats from Within (2016).
The Munich Security Conference is an annual conference that brings together high-profile international security experts to discuss important topics related to global affairs.
Having been founded in 1963 by Ewald von Kleist-Schmenzin, who was inspired by the West German capital, Munich, being spared due to its neutrality during World War II.
The conference provides a forum for frank conversations about current international security issues. Furthermore, it also serves as an important indicator for what may be coming next in the world of global affairs.
In terms of the election that awarded him this position, Dr. Chrsitoph Heugsen won by a majority. The appointment was supported by the current ambassador, Dr. Wolfgang Ischinger, who stressed the importance of greater engagement with the new generation.
Dr. Wolfang Ischinger commended Heugsen’s work within the international community specifically highlighting his skills in diplomacy.
