Focus on Asia-Pacific Region at the Munich Security Conference
The effects of the economic and financial crisis, the growing world-political significance of the Asia-Pacific region and the radical changes in the Arab world are among this year’s key themes at the 48th Munich Security Conference (MSC).
Wolfgang Ischinger, Head of the MSC, (c) dpa
The international conference is being held from February 3 to 5, 2012. Around 350 politicians and experts from more than 60 countries, including several heads of state and government, foreign ministers and defence ministers, will be addressing the current challenges facing global foreign and security policy.
The head of the MSC, the German diplomat Wolfgang Ischinger (photograph), wants the conference to provide impulses in the international political debate – particularly on the Arab Spring, European defence, the question of a comprehensive Euro-Atlantic security community and on relations with the Asia-Pacific region. The American Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her colleague, the Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta will be awaited with great expectation in Munich. The USA is currently strategically redefining its foreign and security policy with a special focus on the Asia-Pacific region. The MSC will also be looking into the significance of this development in terms of the transatlantic relationship.
In Wolfgang Ischinger’s opinion, the USA and Europe will remain important partners in the future, and transatlantic cooperation will continue to form the foundation of their respective foreign policies. However, Mr Ischinger stresses that Europe should recognise the USA’s strategy as a wake-up call. The internationally experienced diplomat sees the need for a comprehensive strategy concept in order to secure Europe’s future viability in the Asia-Pacific Century. And he says this is why the 2012 Munich Security Conference wants to contribute towards building new strategic relationships between China, the new power centres in the region and the Euro-Atlantic Security Community.
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