Berlin – The upcoming Munich Security Conference (MSC) will centre on repairing strained transatlantic relations and serve as a critical platform to narrow the “significant crisis of confidence” between the United States and Europe, conference chairman Wolfgang Ischinger said on Monday.
Speaking at a news conference in Berlin, Ischinger described the current state of US–European ties as experiencing a serious erosion of mutual trust. He expressed particular satisfaction that the American side is showing strong engagement with the event, which begins on Friday and runs through Sunday.
“Transatlantic relations are currently experiencing what I consider to be a significant crisis of confidence,” Ischinger stated. “That is why it is particularly gratifying that the American side is taking such a keen interest in Munich.”
The 62nd edition of the world’s largest informal gathering on international security will feature a substantial US presence, including senior officials from the Trump administration, members of Congress, and other influential figures. Ischinger confirmed that the US delegation will be led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, accompanied by numerous senior officials from relevant departments.
“I expect over 50 members of the US Congress and a government delegation led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, along with numerous senior officials from relevant departments,” he said.
Adding to the high-level US participation, California Governor Gavin Newsom—a prominent Democratic figure and frequent critic of President Donald Trump—will also attend. Ischinger noted that the conference’s invitation policy deliberately extends beyond the White House, reflecting the reality that “America consists of more than just the White House.”
Organisers anticipate more than 200 senior government representatives from approximately 120 countries, including:
Over 60 heads of state and government
More than 65 foreign ministers
Over 30 defence ministers
Senior representatives from more than 40 international organisations
The three-day event will combine formal speeches and panel discussions with extensive opportunities for bilateral meetings and informal diplomacy—hallmarks of the Munich format since its inception.
The conference opens Friday morning with an address by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, making his first appearance in that role at the MSC. Merz is expected to outline Germany’s vision for its place in Europe and the world amid shifting global dynamics.
Secretary Rubio is scheduled to deliver remarks on Saturday, while Sunday’s programme will feature European Union leaders discussing European security, transatlantic relations, and the ongoing situation in Ukraine.
Ischinger emphasised that the conference arrives at a pivotal moment for Euro-Atlantic unity. With deepening divisions over trade, defence spending, Ukraine support, and strategic priorities, the gathering aims to foster candid dialogue and rebuild mutual understanding between Washington and European capitals.
The Munich Security Conference has long served as a barometer of transatlantic relations. This year’s focus on bridging the trust gap underscores the urgency felt by European leaders to maintain cohesion with the United States amid rising geopolitical challenges, including Russia’s war in Ukraine, China’s growing assertiveness, and uncertainties surrounding US foreign policy under the second Trump administration.
No formal agenda has been released yet, but organisers expect discussions to cover a wide range of topics, including NATO’s future, burden-sharing in defence, energy security, supply-chain resilience, and responses to hybrid threats.
As delegations prepare to convene in Munich, the conference is widely seen as one of the most important security gatherings since the outbreak of the Ukraine war, offering a rare opportunity for face-to-face engagement among key decision-makers at a time of profound uncertainty in the international order.
