For the 60th year in a raw, Germany hosted leaders from various countries at the Munich Security Conference. While the conference set goals such as "international order," "climate," and "food insecurity," it was overshadowed by the Ukraine-Russia war and the Israel-Gaza conflict.
The intensity of these two issues was further heightened at this annual gathering, with news of the Zionist regime's assault on Rafah in southern Gaza and the death of renowned critic Alexei Navalny, a prominent critic of Vladimir Putin. The omission of Russia and Iran from the tribune alongside the conference was a clear indication of the host country's political and security bias, but Germany's staging did not turn the spotlight on the reality, especially in the Gaza conflict.
Even figures like Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign policy chief, took aim at Israel's financial and military supporters, stating, "If you believe that a large number of people are being killed, perhaps you should provide fewer weapons to prevent the killing of many people!"
While some media outlets anticipated a breakthrough in talks between Hertzog and the Qatari Prime Minister on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Israel's new positions for the assault tempered optimism about the feasibility of a ceasefire plan. Tel Aviv announced it would intensify attacks on Rafah, the southernmost point of Gaza, contrary to the recommendations of its allies. This area serves as the last refuge for around 1.5 million Palestinian refugees.
During the Munich Security Conference, the United States attempted to persuade the international community that Washington's diplomatic pressure could force the Israeli government to change its course. However, given the experiences of the past months, there was no clear reason to believe that the U.S. predictions about Tel Aviv would come true.
The ongoing tragedy in Gaza, unfolding over the past four months, remains a complete disaster against civilians, the wounded, women, and non-combatants. However, the Munich Security Conference guests expressed limited concerns about it, prioritizing the Ukraine war. Unlike last year, there was no optimistic outlook from Europe and the U.S. regarding potential achievements in Kyiv.
Russia's occupation of Avdiivka, seen as a fresh move to maintain Moscow's control over the Donetsk region, was the first territorial achievement by Russia since May 2023, leaving its impact on the conference atmosphere. The military conflict between Russia and Ukraine reminded participants that, contrary to initial assumptions, U.S. and European sanctions couldn't halt Russia's economy or put an end to the war.
In this context, Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated his financial requests, stating, "Please don't ask Ukraine when the war will end; ask yourself why Putin can still continue it." The President of Ukraine emphasized the depletion of his country's ammunition on the eastern front and the urgent need to equip artillery, calling for financial assistance from the U.S. and Europe.
Supplementing these requests was the claim of a possible Moscow attack on another European country, arguing that Russia should be stopped in Ukraine before moving towards NATO targets. However, no evidence or proof was presented for this claim.
US Vice President Kamala Harris tried to assure European partners, including Zelensky, that the U.S. would stand by them. However, the allocation of a new budget for Ukraine becoming entangled in America's partisan deadlock also conveyed an additional message for Kyiv and other countries: "It doesn't matter who said what and what they said. Next year, we might witness a different team leading the U.S., with different priorities regarding Ukraine, NATO, and the Munich Security Conference."
NOURNEWS