Economist Podcasts Munich insecurity conference: a re-ordering begins
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Feb 17, 2025 
Zanny Minton-Beddoes, editor-in-chief at The Economist, and defense editor Shishank Joshi discuss the seismic shifts in European security highlighted at the Munich Security Conference. They delve into the implications of America's transaction-based foreign policy, the challenges of rising extreme right politics, and NATO's role in the war in Ukraine. The conversation reveals Europe's struggle to bolster its defense capabilities while navigating the complexities of U.S. influence amidst increasing geopolitical tensions.
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Contentious Conference
- This year's Munich Security Conference was unusually newsworthy, generating significant global headlines.
- The Trump administration's actions, not Russia, were the primary source of contention and concern.
Vance's Critique
- Vice President J.D. Vance criticized European democracies, focusing on free speech and migration.
- He challenged Germany's firewall against the far-right AfD party, sparking a strong rebuke from Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Shifting Security Focus
- The Trump administration signaled a reduced American role in European security, focusing on China instead.
- Despite reassurances about immediate troop withdrawals, concerns remain about Trump using European security as a bargaining chip.