For several decades, the Munich Security Conference has provided international policy makers with an independent forum where they can discuss the most pressing political challenges facing the world. Its history therefore reflects the high and low points of international relations in general and the Transatlantic Alliance in particular. The series Munich Moments reports on an occasional basis on some of the highlights of Munich, ranging from moments of relaxed dialogue to heated exchanges on key questions of international security policy.

Munich Moments - 1st episode: Russia warns NATO (1999)

by Lorenz Hemicker

The 35th Munich Conference on Security Policy marks a turning point. For the first time, the event is joined by non-NATO nations. Russia takes advantage of the invitation to agitate against NATO's further enlargement to the east. Other nations are eager to join the Alliance...

Munich Moments - 2nd episode: Transatlantic touthache (2001)

by Lorenz Hemicker

The United States and the European Union are promoting their flagship security projects. However, US missile defense and EU response force plans cause strong reservations among the partners on both sides of the Atlantic...

Munich Moments - 3rd episode: "Sorry, I am not convinced!" (2003)

by Lorenz Hemicker

On the eve of the third Gulf War, Donald Rumsfeld and Joschka Fischer had a heated debate that went down in history. With this verbal battle, the transatlantic relationship hit rock bottom and the conference experienced one of its most outstanding moments...

Munich Moments - 4th episode: A breeze of Cold War (2007)

by Oliver Rolofs

The audience at the Munich Security Conference 2007 was most eager to hear the speech of Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, hardly any of the conference participants expected that Mr. Putin's fiery speech would stir up the conference venue at the "Hotel Bayerischer Hof" like a thunderstorm...

Munich Moments - 5th episode: Washington presses the reset button (2009)

by Lorenz Hemicker

US Vice President Joe Biden announces reorientation of American foreign and security policy. Plus Russian-American arms reduction talks are gaining momentum...