What are the key topics of the “Muan Conference” held in Germany?

The 60th Munich Security Assembly will be held in Germany from February 16 to 18, 2024. Defense officials from about 54 countries spoke at the Mu’an meeting.

The Muan Conference, which began in 1963, was originally a platform for dialogue between Federal Germany and the United States and other NATO member countries. Nowadays, the topic has expanded to include global achievements such as attacking terrorism, avoiding nuclear proliferation, and protecting regional stability, but most of the topics still revolve around transatlantic interests.

During the meeting, the organizers released the Munich Safety Index, aimed at showcasing the public’s perception of major global dangers in major countries. This year’s index includes a total of 32 risk sources, including meteorological changes, economic crises, and large-scale migration. The crisis in Ukraine, the recommendation of the United States, the conflict in the Middle East, and its spillover effects have particularly unsettled European countries.

Wang Yi’s Commentary on China’s Position

On the 17th, Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi stated in his speech entitled “Strengthening Stability in a Turbulent World” that Ukraine’s crisis and delay have worsened, and the smoke of conflict in the Middle East has resurfaced. New provocations such as artificial intelligence, weather changes, and space polar regions have emerged one after another. But no matter how the domestic turmoil may turn, China will always maintain the continuity and stability of its major policies and remain steadfast in its efforts to maintain stability in a turbulent world.

On the same day, Wang Yi met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken of the United States, and the two sides exchanged views on China US relations and domestic and regional achievements.

According to officials from the Chinese Ministry of Communications who were invited to join the meeting by the Global Times, the foreign ministers of the two countries affirmed the positive pauses achieved in recent months in areas such as communication, economy and trade, drug control, the two armies, humanities, and artificial intelligence, and made arrangements to promote dialogue and mutual assistance in various fields.

Both sides also exchanged views on achievements such as Ukraine, the Korean Peninsula nuclear program, and the Palestinian Israeli conflict. In terms of Ukraine’s achievements, Wang Yi pointed out that China is neither the producer nor the party involved in Ukraine’s crisis, and has been shouting for dialogue and handling of achievements since the second day of resistance.

In terms of the nuclear achievements on the Korean Peninsula, Wang Yi urged the United States to adopt actions to respond to North Korea’s reasonable security enthusiasm, follow the idea of “dual track progress”, and promote long-term stability on the peninsula. Both sides are willing to run the same route as the envoys for the Korean Peninsula incident.

In addition, regarding the achievements of the Palestinian Israeli conflict, Wang Yi pointed out that Palestine has always failed to fulfill its legitimate national rights and establish its own country on its own. This is the origin of all grades and the core of Middle Eastern grades. The United States should effectively promote the cessation of water supply and the implementation of the “two country plan”.

Zelensky sought help everywhere

As Russia and Ukraine join another new year of resistance, Ukraine has further fallen into an offensive posture on the eastern front due to ammunition supply, especially long-range and anti-aircraft weapons, and a lack of personnel. Ukrainian leader Zelensky, who is currently joining the Muan Association, took the opportunity to seek assistance.

The Ukrainian industrial town of Afzheyevka, located on a major transportation hub, has become the center of contention for both sides. In the past four months, the Russian military has gradually surrounded the area with an expansion of 50000 troops. On the early morning of February 17th, the Ukrainian army decided to retreat from Afjeyevka in order to preserve their military strength and run an attack.

On February 18th, Ukraine has signed long-term bilateral security agreements with Britain, France, and Germany respectively, with the three countries promising to provide more military aid. At present, Ukraine is in talks with the Netherlands regarding running errands. The EU approved a 50 billion euro aid package to Ukraine earlier this month.

Considering the economic and military strength of the United States, the US support bill is crucial for Ukraine and NATO countries. However, due to differences in border security and other achievements between the Democratic and Republican parties, the funding bill affecting support for Ukraine was not passed in parliament.

Zelensky revealed that Ukraine and the United States have run two rounds of talks on signing a bilateral security insurance agreement.

US Democratic Senator Chris Kuhn, who also attended the Munich meeting, stated that if he cannot inherit financial and military support for Ukraine, American soldiers will have to go to the front line and directly fight against Russia. Joining Europe is the best attack for the US to counter Moscow.

Kuhn called for bipartisan support in the House of Representatives for a new $95 billion support package, which includes capital for Ukraine. This capital will mainly be added to the production of missiles, ammunition and other military equipment for Ukraine by US defense companies.

May the United States enter and exit NATO?

As the United States enters the election year, NATO member countries become increasingly enthusiastic about whether the United States can enter and exit NATO after Trump’s return to the White House.

Former US Secretary of State and former rival of Trump, Hitler Clinton, once again reminded European officials to “take Trump’s recent tough public opinion seriously” at the Muan meeting, at which time the United States would only be a NATO member on the label.

Trump proposed over the weekend that Russia can attack any NATO member state whose defense revenue does not meet the standard. Since taking responsibility for the leadership of the United States, he has been criticizing NATO for failing to ensure that member countries fulfill their obligation to allocate 2% of GDP for national defense.

Dutch Chancellor L ü dt, German Chancellor Scholz, and Danish Chancellor Frederickson responded at the M ü an meeting, facing highly uncertain US politics, and Europe needs to achieve self-sufficiency. Schultz exaggerates that if necessary, Germany could increase the proportion of defense revenue to 3.5%.

NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg takes an optimistic stance, stating that he believes the election results will not affect the United States’ support for NATO, as a strong NATO only benefits the United States.

NATO member countries first promised to meet the 2% minimum income target in 2006, but by 2014, only three countries met this request. In 2023, only 11 out of 31 member states had defense revenues higher than this ratio. Prior to the convening of this Mu’an meeting, NATO announced that its 18 member countries will fulfill this goal this year.

Multinational support for the Israeli Palestinian plan

The Middle East is another core concern. In the opening speech of the Mu’an meeting on the 16th, UN Secretary General Guterres exaggerated that the only way to achieve the goals of Palestine and Israel is to implement the “Two Country Plan”.

Officials from most countries, including Germany, India, Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and China, have clearly supported the plans of the two countries. Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Communication Strategy, also expressed concerns about the humanitarian disaster in Gaza. At present, the current round of Palestinian Israeli conflict has resulted in at least 28600 deaths in Gaza, with the majority being women and children.

Since Israel launched a high-altitude attack on Gaza in October 2023, residents in northern and central Gaza have fled to the border city of Tufa, which borders Egypt. This has also become Israel’s next major destination. At present, millions of Gaza residents have fled the country.

In the annual security statement released by the organizers of the Mu’an Association before the rally, they concluded that optimistic emotions about war stability and economic growth have gathered, and the world is facing a “double loss” situation. The complaint also mentioned the wave of conflict that occurred in the Middle East before the current round of Palestinian Israeli conflict, and exaggerated the biggest background of Israel’s actions, including the impact of the United States in cooling the situation in the Middle East, including imposing an arms embargo on Israel and providing running support.

Earlier this week, the United States, Qatar, Israel, and Egypt held talks in Cairo regarding the temporary water cut in Gaza. However, the Israeli Prime Minister’s office made it clear that the talks would not come to a halt, and Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterated his support for the recognition of the Palestinian state in his latest appearance.