The Munich Security Conference (MSC) is one of the most important events that bring leaders worldwide together to discuss the challenges of global security.
Every year, the MSC publishes the Munich Security Report, which underlines the critical trends in global security.
This year's report was titled "Polypandemic," and the coronavirus pandemic's multidimensional aspects were meticulously examined.
Last year's provoking theme "Westlessness" portrayed a post-Western global order/disorder and urged international actors to cooperate more to address the challenges that could emerge due to the vacuum left by the weakening trans-Atlantic commitments.
This year, like the year before, the MSC was organized online. The format was compatible with the spirit of the time and the pandemic conditions.
Biden's participation
The most critical MSC activity was the address of U.S. President Joe Biden. He was no stranger to the MSC, having also participated in the forum as a senator and as a vice president.
After four years of Donald Trump's presidency in the U.S. and after an era of "America first" foreign policy, the messages Trump would convey gained meaning.
The future of the trans-Atlantic alliance and multilateralism was at stake after its dramatic decline during the Trump presidency.
As expected, Biden issued strong messages to European partners and allies that signaled the return of the U.S. as the leading actor of global diplomacy and the leader of the Western alliance.
The old-fashioned message of "leader of the free world" did not generate the same enthusiasm that it used to. This is mainly due to the new challenges the world is facing due to the pandemic.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson issued similar statements highlighting the trans-Atlantic partnership's significance in dealing with the new challenges the world is facing.
In contrast, French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized strategic autonomy for European security and foreign policy.
Rising Chinese influence and the unpredictability due to the pandemic's possible consequences were the elephants in the room.
The perspectives mentioned and promoted at the MSC often represent the more specific view of the trans-Atlantic partners.
Shared themes highlighted by Biden and European leaders were: