Wake up call for Europe
Insights from the 61st Munich Security Conference
Bled Strategic Forum has always advocated a simple fact – only united can Europe play a meaningful role in the international community. We have all the tools at our disposal to make Europe strong, competitive, resilient, secure, and adaptable to this new reality. All we need is political will and strategic thinking.
Bled Strategic Forum attended the 61st Munich Security Conference (MSC), which took place from February 14 to 16, 2025, at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Munich. The event came at a pivotal moment in time: a new US administration took office in January, a new cycle of European legislature in Brussels and German parliamentary elections follow just one week after the conference.
All of the discussions were influenced, one way or another, by the new geostrategic reality, reflected especially in the speech of the US Vice President J.D. Vance and subsequent replies by European and other leaders. While it is evident that we are embarking on a journey of changes which will reshape the global community, it is a little less evident how Europe will respond to these challenges in order to stay relevant, resilient, and present at the geostrategic table.
Why do we know that this is a fact? Because we see numerous attempts from other global players to divide and weaken us. They know that a united and strong Europe is a force that can play a significant role in reshaping the future of geostrategic global theatre. They know that a united Europe can push and promote a rule-based multilateral order, have a key role in ending regional conflicts, and implement sustainable transition. In this context, it would be of paramount importance that Europe, and especially its political leaders, understand the geopolitical moment and act accordingly. We have all the tools at our disposal to make Europe strong, competitive, resilient, secure, and adaptable to this new reality. All we need is political will and strategic thinking.
One of the tools which plays an important role in how the EU will navigate this sea of change is, of course, enlargement. With it, the EU can show that we are serious about consolidating the European continent. The time has come to make bold decisions and finish what we started more than 20 years ago.
On Thursday, we listened to the Security Policy Round Table entitled “Out in the cold? Germany and Europe in the new geopolitical reality” at Prinz-Carl-Palais. The debate focused on what does Trump 2.0 mean for NATO, Europe and Germany. More information is available here.
On Friday, we joined the session “The Power of Small States”, where Tanja Fajon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia took part as a speaker. A recording of the session is available here.
Our Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, also took part in the discussion “Democratic Fragility in the 21st Century” organised in cooperation with the BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt and Club of Rome entitled “Democratic Fragility in the 21st Century: Governance, State Capacity and the Challenge of Societal Fragmentation” discussing the role of business and good governance for safeguarding the future of democracies.
On Saturday we joined the discussion “Exception and Exceptionalism: Deciphering the 2025 World Order”, organised by our partner Observer Research Foundation, which provided some great insights on conditions that can catalyse partnerships and cooperation, and preserve global stability and security, at this moment of global transition. We hope to be able to continue these debates with S. Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of India, at the 2025 Bled Strategic Forum international conference. A recording of the session is available here.
Under the framework of the Bled Strategic Forum platform, our Secretary General, Peter Grk, held closed discussion with Marta Kos, European Commissioner for Enlargement, Ambassador (ret.) Wolfgang Ischinger, President of the Foundation Council of the Munich Security Conference, and the leaders of the Western Balkans. The future of the Western Balkans lies in the European Union whereby Western Balkans and the European Union share a common future and face challenges that we can only overcome together. The discussion addressed how you can the region of WB contribute today and in future to a free and democratic, stronger more secure and prosperous Europe. Bled Strategic Forum and Slovenia remain committed to a European perspective for the region and will continue discussing further steps at the Bled Strategic Forum international conference.
At the end, allow us to congratulate Christoph Heusgen and welcome Jens Stoltenberg as the new Chair of the MSC.
Peter Grk,
Secretary General of the Bled Strategic Forum