Ewald von Kleist Award
With the Ewald von Kleist Award, the Munich Security Conference has been honoring leading personalities in security politics who have made an outstanding contribution to international understanding and conflict resolution since the award's inception in 2009.
About Ewald von Kleist
Ewald von Kleist was the founder and defining personality of the Munich Security Conference. As its patron for over 30 years, Kleist was instrumental in advancing the transatlantic security dialogue and introducing post-war Germany into NATO and the broader Cold War security order. Kleist, a prolific author, jurist, and publisher, founded the "Internationale Wehrkunde" conference in 1963 to overcome what he viewed as a "lack of experts on nuclear matters" as well as to enhance German legislators' understanding of American security policy. Kleist was noted for his expertise on the role of nuclear weapons in NATO's defense posture and Europe’s role in the transatlantic partnership – issues that confronted NATO and "Wehrkunde" throughout and after the Cold War. Until his death in 2013, Kleist remained active in security affairs and a regular participant of the MSC, a reflection of his devotion to "Wehrkunde" and the issues to which he had dedicated his life. His legacy will continue to inspire leaders and practitioners from around the world.
Read also William Yardley's obituary in The New York Times and the obituary by Wolfgang Ischinger, President of the MSC Foundation Council.
The Award
The medal of the Ewald von Kleist Award before the award ceremony in 2014 — Source: MSC / Kleinschmidt — Source: MSC / Kleinschmidt
Aiming to honor leading figures in security policy that have made an outstanding contribution to international peace and conflict management, the MSC inaugurated the Ewald von Kleist Award in 2009. We are honoured that outstanding statesmen and -women and practitioners of security policy, most of which have been conference speakers and participants for many years, have accepted the award.
Ewald von Kleist Award 2025
The Munich Security Conference (MSC) presented the Ewald von Kleist Award 2025 to Kaja Kallas for her essential leadership in rallying support for Ukraine after Russia's full-scale invasion, recognizing her as a resilient and widely respected leader and staunch defender of the rule of law.
Previous Award Winners
2025
Kaja Kallas
2024
Mia Amor Mottley and John F. Kerry
2023
Finland and Sweden
2022
Jens Stoltenberg
2021
Angela Merkel
2020
United Nations
2019
Alexis Tsipras and Zoran Zaev
2018
John McCain
2017
Joachim Gauck
2016
Christiana Figueres and Laurent Fabius
2015
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
2014
Helmut Schmidt und Valéry Giscard d'Estaing
2013
Brent Scowcroft
2012
Joseph Lieberman
2010
Javier Solana
2009
Dr. Henry Kissinger
