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Munich Siko is going digital, the guest list reads more prominently than ever - Merkel and Biden speak

2021-02-18T18:07:25.935Z


The Munich Security Conference is going digital: Instead of hundreds of guests in the Bayerischer Hof, it is now taking place via video switch due to corona. The organizers are consoling themselves with a maximum of prominent guest list - and hope to be present in the summer.


The Munich Security Conference is going digital: Instead of hundreds of guests in the Bayerischer Hof, it is now taking place via video switch due to corona.

The organizers are consoling themselves with a maximum of prominent guest list - and hope to be present in the summer.

  • The Munich Security Conference will take place digitally on Friday due to corona

  • The main speaker will be the new US President Joe Biden, who wants to strengthen the transatlantic relationship

  • Angela Merkel, Emmanuel Macron and Boris Johnson are also expected

Munich

- All you need is the right draft horse and the other guests will come by themselves. When it became known last week that US President Joe Biden would be attending the Munich Security Conference, London suddenly knocked at the organizers.

Boris Johnson could join the conference after the G7 summit, it said.

The Siko people didn't take long to be asked.

In normal times it takes an effort to win over politicians like the British Prime Minister.

But what is currently normal?

The corona pandemic is far from over.

This year it also meets the world's largest security policy meeting and is forcing it completely digital for the first time.

The organizers speak of a "Special Edition" which, viewed in the light of day, is certainly not a dream scenario.

Because Siko actually lives from gathering as many decision-makers as possible in a small space for a short time.

The quick dialogue between political opponents, the discreet conversation in small groups, the many well-attended side events - all of this is eliminated.

Nevertheless, they didn't want to just let the appointment pass.

In general, the switch to digital is not only associated with pain.

A large part of the time-consuming planning is eliminated, giant delegations stay at home instead of flying around half the globe.

And: It has seldom been easier to get such a prominent group together.

In addition to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron have also accepted.

The organizers are particularly proud of Joe Biden's participation.

"We achieved a really great success here," says Johannes Schmid, spokesman for the security conference.

Not just because Biden will be the first incumbent US president to attend.

But also because the heavily strained transatlantic relationship desperately needs a little care.

It cooled down under Donald Trump, which was also felt at the Siko meetings.

Biden tried several times himself to sweep up the broken pieces in Munich.

In 2019 he called to Europe with a view to Trump: “I promise you, this will pass.

We come back."

He kept the promise.

His first speech in - well - at least in Europe is eagerly awaited.

Nobody has false illusions, however, the two sides are too far apart for that;

be it with the Nord Stream 2 gas pipelines, dealing with China or defense spending.

"I expect Biden to clearly articulate American expectations," said Siko's vice-chairman, Boris Ruge, in the "Tagesspiegel".

The US president will not be able to repair the battered relationship alone.

Europe and Germany would also have to get together

The conference is to be the prelude, the Chancellor speaks, dramaturgically skillful, directly after Biden.

All in all, a good three hours are planned, Siko boss Wolfgang Ischinger and the "BR" journalist Natalie Amiri are moderating live from the Bayerischer Hof.

So that the matter does not become a sermon format, as many speakers as possible should be available to answer questions.

"We firmly assume that everyone will hear each other's speeches and will also take them up," says Siko spokesman Schmid.

Thematically, it should also be about the two major crises of our time: the corona pandemic and climate change.

Speakers will be Bill Gates, WHO Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and the US Special Envoy for the Climate, John Kerry.

Secretly, the organizers hope to be able to catch up with the actual Siko in the summer, well ahead of the general election.

The special edition is the "first step on the way to a normal conference," says Schmid.

Last but not least, Corona decides whether and when.

The Munich Siko

takes place on Friday, February 19, from 4 p.m. to 7.15 p.m.

The "BR" broadcasts on TV from 5.10 pm.

The full length of the Siko can be seen from 3:45 p.m. at Phoenix and at www.securityconference.org and br.de.

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2021-02-18

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