62nd Munich Security Conference Opens with Focus on Ukraine War, Gaza Crisis

The 62nd Munich Security Conference began Friday in Munich, Germany, a three-day event attended by political, military, and security officials from about 120 countries. The main focus is on the Ukraine war, the Gaza crisis, the Iran issue, and the future of transatlantic relations.

The conference opened with a speech by Friedrich Merz, Germany's chancellor, one of 15 European Union heads of state or government present. Other prominent attendees include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

A large U.S. congressional delegation is also participating. Wolfgang Ischinger, the conference chairman, said ahead of the event that transatlantic relations, a "backbone" since the conference's founding in 1963, now face a "significant crisis of trust and credibility." He noted the extensive U.S. delegation as a sign of Washington's interest in the talks.

Last year's conference, held weeks after Donald Trump's second inauguration, featured a speech by J.D. Vance on democracy in Europe that drew widespread reactions from European leaders. Subsequent Trump administration positions included threats of new tariffs over Greenland, a semi-autonomous Danish territory and NATO member; the threat was later dropped.

Rubio, heading the U.S. delegation, arrived Friday and is scheduled to speak Saturday morning. Before traveling to Germany, he described Europe as "very important" to the U.S. but said the world has entered a "new era in geopolitics" requiring a review of countries' roles. He stressed the need to end the Ukraine war, calling it "horrible" with people suffering in the coldest time of year, and said the U.S. has worked hard for over a year to end it.

Rubio is set to meet Zelenskyy on the sidelines, as well as Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, according to officials.

Other speakers include French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Amid U.S. pressure, NATO allies have agreed to significant defense spending increases over the past year. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said a "change in mindset" has occurred, with Europe taking a greater leadership role.

The conference continues through Sunday amid broad global security challenges and growing U.S.-European differences on NATO, Ukraine, and Middle East developments.