Ahead of the Munich Security Conference (MSC), which will take place from February 13 to 15 in Germany, the Munich Security Report, titled "Under Destruction," declared that the world has entered a period of "wrecking-ball politics."

"Sweeping destruction – rather than careful reforms and policy corrections – is the order of the day," the report stated.

This year's conference unfolds in the context of surging geopolitical conflicts, which have posed intense pressure on the global security architecture. From the protracted Russia-Ukraine conflict and escalating tensions in the Middle East to U.S. military strikes in Venezuela, regional crises have increasingly taken on global significance.

Faced with a range of security challenges, the conference will address issues including regional conflicts, European security and defense, the future of the transatlantic relationship, the revitalization of multilateralism, competing visions of the global order, the security implications of artificial intelligence, nuclear issues, and the risks posed by climate change. 

Weakening transatlantic alliance

One theme that stands out in this year's Munich Security Report is its repeated references to a deteriorating transatlantic alliance, a trend exacerbated by a series of recent developments, including U.S. threats to acquire Greenland, which has shaken up what was once a pillar of the postwar international order.

"The shift from disagreements about policies to disagreements about the basic norms at the heart of the transatlantic partnership is a dangerous development and raises questions about the future of transatlantic cooperation," the report cautioned.

The weakening U.S.-Europe alliance reflects a growing divergence in the understanding of foundational values between the two sides, the report suggested. 

"The emergence of fundamentally incompatible interpretations of what the West is all about and the unsettling consequences of this development have been borne out," said the report.

U.S. role in conflicts emphasized

The security report also highlighted the current U.S. administration's role in driving the instability and the erosion of the international order. 

"The most powerful of those who take the axe to existing rules and institutions is U.S. President Donald Trump," the report said, characterizing him as a "demolition man."

The report expressed concerns that actions from the U.S. to advance its own interests will backfire, citing criticisms that the "turning away from the liberal principles that have buttressed the postwar order" can lead to the "suicide of a superpower."

The ramifications of the destructing the world order can also bring about injustice in future deals, according to the report.

"We might see a world shaped by transactional deals rather than principled cooperation, private rather than public interests, and regions shaped by regional hegemons rather than universal norms," the report added. 

What can we expect?

Jiang Feng, research professor at Shanghai Academy of Global Government and Area Studies (SAGGAS), dean of Institute for European Studies and chairman of the Council of SAGGAS, told CGTN that this year's Munich Security Conference is about "how the world order is falling apart and how to fix it." 

"The main report of the conference basically sounded out the alarm that the current international system is breaking down. But I think what the organizers really want is for the leaders and the experts there in Munich to talk about what to do next," Jiang said in an interview hours before he departed for the conference. 

When asked about the kind of dialogues that would emerge from this conference, Jiang said, "I think participants should push for rebuilding multilateral governance, to repair a broken governance structure of the world, not to resort to so-called minilateral alliances." 

According to Jiang, the model of "minilateral alliances" is currently "fashionable" in many countries, including some of those in Europe. However, he warned that "minilateralism" is "still a form of bloc building," which is only a variation of traditional power politics.

"Such power political strategies have not led the world to peace but to wars in history again and again," he added.  

Challenge remains

Although MSC offers a platform for dialogues among countries, challenges remain prominent as "red line" issues in many countries have become more pronounced, tightening the space for negotiation. 

Speaking of the significance of MSC in this context, Jiang said, "The MSC is a very important global platform, perhaps even the most important one discussing global security and strategic issues."

Jiang also acknowledged the existing challenges and said that the conference is "a forum for discussing problems, not for solving problems," and sometimes "critical security issues discussed in Munich have not received sufficient attention or follow-up." 

"I hope the Munich Security Conference could outline some ground ideas for a new world order, which could lead the world out of the dilemma of geopolitical struggle, or at least to keep the countries communicating with each other, to understand each other's position, interests, and of course, to restore trust in international institutions," he stated. 

Nearly 50 heads of state and governments from all over the world have planned to attend MSC 2026.