MSC hosts Conversation with the three Chancellor candidates about the future of German foreign and security policy

Titled "Beyond Westlessness: Germany's Role in the World", the three chancellor candidates discussed the future of German foreign and security policy in a 90-minute television format, hosted by the Munich Security Conference (MSC) and the ARD. The panel discussion was part of the series "Beyond Westlessness: Road to Munich", which prepares the ground for the next Munich Security Conference in 2022 with several events and formats. Thematically, the event followed up on last year's special edition of the Munich Security Report"Zeitenwende | Wendezeiten" and focused on the global challenges facing Germany in the midst of a global political turning point. Moderated by Wolfgang Ischinger, Chairman of the MSC, and Tina Hassel, Head of the ARD Capital Studio, Annalena Baerbock, Armin Laschet, and Olaf Scholz commented on four topic areas: the transatlantic relationship, the European Union, the relations with Russia and China, as well as current crises and global challenges.

To include international perspectives on, and expectations towards Germany’s future role in the world, some of the topics were introduced and complemented by short video questions from a selected group of senior decision-makers and experts. David Petraeus, US General and former CIA Director, raised the question of transatlantic burden-sharing and military capabilities of the Bundeswehr; Clément Beaune, French Secretary of State for European Affairs, asked about the priority of European sovereignty and autonomy for the next German government. With a question about Germany's future China policy, Timothy Garton Ash, British historian and professor of European Studies at Oxford University, introduced the third topic area on systemic competition. With regard to relations with Russia, Radoslaw Sikorski, former Polish Foreign Minister, asked about the position of the three chancellor candidates concerning the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline; Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, asked about the prospects of EU and NATO membership, as well as additional security guarantees for his country. As part of the final topic area of international crises and challenges, former Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni raised the question which concrete steps Germany could take for promoting peace between Israel and Palestine and fostering regional security.

The panel discussion could address several questions about Germany's future international role. Yet, as the end of Chancellor Merkel's last term is fast approaching, the demand for further debates about her successor’s foreign policy course will remain great – at home and abroad. The MSC will continue to discuss this and other related topics in the upcoming months.

You can read the full transcript of the event here (4.26 MB).

You can re-watch the full recording of the Conversation in our media library:

This MSC Conversation is part of the MSC series "Beyond Westlessness: Road to Munich". In the months leading up to the MSC 2022, this series aims to advance the security policy dialogue among international decision-makers and to lay the groundwork for in-person debates in Munich in February 2022. At the heart lies the question of how transatlantic cooperation can be revitalized, and which foreign and security policy challenges are particularly crucial in this context. To this end, a wide variety of event formats and publications will highlight key global and transatlantic challenges and develop policy recommendations, including on relations with China.