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Munich Security Conference 2007

President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin. Photo: Antje Wildgrube

The 43rd Munich Security Conference, held from 9 to 11 February 2007, was entitled "Global Crises – Global Responsibility". It was overshadowed above all by Russian President Putin, who in his speech criticized the policy of the US and its allies in unusually harsh terms, provoking a debate on a possible new Cold War. Other conference themes were NATO’s future and, like last year, Iran’s nuclear programme.

The Russian President was very open in voicing his concerns and qualms with regard to NATO’s plans to deploy an anti-missile defense system, as well as the current US foreign and security policies and the inherent "excessive" use of force. Mr Putin demanded a return to the traditions of international law. It would have to be the United Nations again, and not other states or organizations, to decide on international interventions. President Putin did not comment on accusations from the audience regarding human rights violations in Russia. Following Putin’s speech, there was a hint of old Cold War tensions for the rest of that day. US representatives in particular took his remarks as an open confrontation.

Secretary of Defense of the Russian Federation, Sergej B. Iwanow (ri), and M. K. Narayanan, National Security Advisor of India. Photo: Kai Mörk

During a debate on the future of NATO, US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates adopted a more conciliatory tone the next day and emphasized the importance of US-Russia cooperation, saying that the existing problems had to be tackled in a spirit of partnership. In addition, he appealed to NATO partners to live up to their promises to supply military and financial aid for the Afghanistan operation: "An alliance consisting of the world’s most prosperous industrialized nations should be able to generate the manpower and materiel needed to get the job done in Afghanistan." That NATO operation had already dominated the debate on Saturday, where a close link had been established between the future of the Alliance and the success or failure of the current mission in Afghanistan. NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer emphasized that the Alliance had to prove whether it could keep its promises. He thus also pointed to the need for an Afghanistan strategy and a new Strategic Concept for the Alliance. "We have learned our lessons." Mr de Hoop Scheffer went on to state that in the 21st century the task not only had to be to guarantee military security but also to embed NATO in the network of international institutions. Germany’s Defence Minister Franz-Josef Jung continued this theme, championing the German concept of "networked security", which seeks to link military, diplomatic, economic and development policy methods.

A Panel discussion at the 43rd Munich Security Conference. Photo: Kai Mörk

At the close of the conference Iran’s chief negotiator Ali Larijani spoke in a more conciliatory manner than the Iranian representative who had spoken the previous year, underlining his country’s readiness to negotiate. The year before the tone was more aggressive. This time he emphasized that “in Iran's National Security Doctrine there is no place for chemical or nuclear weapons”. However, this time, too, Larijani directed critique at Washington. He blamed Iraq’s problems on occupation by US forces. Terrorist attacks and the American troop presence were, he said, mutually reinforcing, forming a vicious circle which could only be broken if the coalition forces were withdrawn.

For further information, as well as all the speeches and photos, please click on Archives...