Event Summary
MSC hosted Munich Leaders Meeting in Rio de Janeiro
Following last year’s Munich Leaders Meetings (MLMs) in Tokyo and Nairobi, the Munich Security Conference (MSC) hosted this year’s MLM in Rio de Janeiro from November 19 to 21. The event brought together a group of 80 decision-makers and experts from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), Europe, the US, and beyond. Chaired by the President of the MSC Foundation Council, Wolfgang Ischinger, the participants discussed ways to unlock potential for cooperation in various policy areas, including global governance reform, the fight against climate change, trade, and security issues in the region.
Coming on the heels of the G20 Summit in Brazil, two weeks after the US elections, and amid high geopolitical tensions, the MLM took place at a critical time. Building on the outcomes of the G20, the meeting aimed to promote an exchange of perspectives on the future of the global order and explore ways to unlock cooperation potential regarding various policy areas and pressing regional as well as cross-regional challenges.
As at the G20 Summit, the discussions highlighted divergent views on the global order and on international conflicts such as the war in Ukraine and in Gaza. There was general agreement on the need to reform multilateral governance and make it more inclusive. In the face of geopolitical competition, several participants from the region stressed the importance of multi-alignment and the need to cooperate with both the US and China. The change in US administration might lead to a readjustment of these strategies and could lead to policy shifts on regional priorities such as migration and the crisis in Venezuela.
The discussions highlighted how much international and regional cooperation is already taking place. This includes joint approaches to food security, which have gained momentum with the launch of the G20 Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. Another positive example of cross-continental cooperation was maritime security in the South Atlantic where Brazil is working with African counterparts to exchange expertise on capacity-building for coastguards and navies.
However, the discussions also highlighted areas of insufficient cooperation and untapped potential. With limited progress at COP29 and a possible US withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement looming, participants pointed to the need to forge new alliances and explore new sources of finance to take the fight against climate change forward. The region was also seen as “punching below its weight” in terms of economic cooperation and trade, suffering from a lack of economic integration, intra-regional trade, as well as regional hard and soft infrastructure. Regarding the fight against organized crime, participants cited positive examples of cross-border cooperation but also underscored the need for increased information-sharing and strengthening of national customs, police, and intelligence capacities. Participants regretted the lack of European engagement in the region but expressed hope that a conclusion of the EU-Mercosur trade talks could provide new impetus for political and economic cooperation. Overall, the meeting underscored the importance of revitalizing regional cooperation and intensifying cross-continental dialogue, trade, and investment.
This MLM was organized in cooperation with a variety of organizations in the host region and beyond, including the Brazilian G20 presidency and the Brazilian Center for International Relations (CEBRI). The event was supported by the Boston Consulting Group and BMW. Watch here a short recap of the MLM in Rio by our CEO and Vice-Chairman Benedikt Franke.
