Munich Young Leaders Alumni gather in New Delhi for the 2023 Annual Meeting

From August 24 to 26, 2023, more than 40 Munich Young Leaders — alumni and members of the current cohort of 2023 — gathered in New Delhi for their Annual Meeting. The Munich Young Leaders program is a joint project by the Munich Security Conference (MSC) and Körber-Stiftung that brings together decision-makers of tomorrow in the fields of foreign and security policy.  

The official program started with a Welcome Reception at the German Embassy in India, where Deputy Ambassador Georg Enzweiler, the MSC Director of Programs Lisa Marie Ulrich and Nora Müller, Executive Director of International Affairs at Körber-Stiftung, welcomed the Young Leaders.  

Lisa Marie Ullrich and Nora Müller emphasized the relevance of hosting this year's reunion in India's capital, highlighting the ever-growing role of the world's most populous country and its rising economy in the global order. In addition, they thanked the dedicated group of MYL alumni in India for their invaluable support in preparing the Annual Meeting in New Delhi. 

Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – One Earth, One Family, One Future 

On August 25, the first discussion session focused on the future of multilateralism and India's vision for its G20 presidency in light of the summit's theme "One Earth, One Family, One Future". Shamika Ravi, Member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, and Sachin Chaturvedi, Director General of the Research and Information System for Developing Countries, joined several MYL alumni on the panel for a vibrant discussion, which particularly centered around questions on future-proofing multilateralism and relevant reforms for international institutions.  

The second session of the day zoomed in on the main security concerns, strategic choices and challenges for India and its partners in the region. Against the backdrop of India’s increasing ambitions and influence in the region, the panel particularly emphasized the balancing of strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific and the role of India-U.S. cooperation in deterring China.  

Discussions - Multifaceted Global Challenges and A Look at the World's Biggest Democracy 

The program continued with an exclusive conversation with Hardeep Singh Puri, India's Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs. The Minister joined the Young Leaders for an intimate exchange, sharing his expertise from a longstanding diplomatic career including at the United Nations in New York as well as his perspective on the current global order. 

In the afternoon, the MYL split into smaller breakout sessions, taking a closer look at, and exchanging views on, multifaceted challenges for the international community, such as the energy transition, the role of women in peace and security, the weaponization of food and the digital transformation. 

Following a cultural visit to the minaret Qutub Minar and a dinner overlooking this well-known landmark in the capital, the MYL engaged in a Night Cap discussion on the present and the future of the world's biggest democracy. During the session, MYL alumni from India shared their perspective on domestic politics and democratic governance ahead of next year’s national elections in India. 

Revisioning the Global Order – Young Leaders' Outlook from New Delhi 

On the third day of the Annual Meeting, the group gathered at the historic Bikaner House. The first discussion session of the day was titled "Climate Action and Economic Growth – Contradiction or Co-Existence", focusing on possibilities and obstacles of a simultaneous and mutually beneficial pursuit of climate action and growth. The panelists called for a democratization of the narrative surrounding climate action: There was wide agreement that instead of blaming others for their alleged lack of climate action, developed countries should engage more in finding joint, context-specific solutions adapted to each country's needs. 

Following a brief input on the history of India's foreign policy, titled "How the Past Informs the Future", the final panel discussion of the day was dedicated to visions for a fairer and more equitable global order. At the centre of a passionate debate among the panelists and the MYL audience were diverging views for reimagining the global order from a non-Western perspective, the role of BRICS therein, and the use of the term "Global South" in light of the political, cultural, and socio-economic diversity of countries in the associated regions.   

For the concluding session and as a particular highlight of the official program, the MYL were invited by Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of India, for a high-level conversation in his Ministry. At the beginning of the session, Minister Jaishankar provided a brief input outlining his perspective on the most pressing foreign and security challenges for the international community ahead of the G20 summit, before engaging in a lively and frank Q&A session with the Young Leaders.  

Following three days of diverse discussions and thematic inputs, the MYL Annual Meeting concluded with an excursion to the Taj Mahal in Agra, giving the Young Leaders an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of India's cultural and historic richness.