Highlights: 180 political leaders from around the world are expected from this Friday for the Munich conference on security. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will be there on Saturday after the signing this Friday in Berlin and Paris of bilateral security agreements between his country, Germany and France. Israeli President Isaac Herzog, the Palestinian Prime Minister as well as regional officials and even American Secretary of State Antony Blinken are expected. The conference will symbolically open with a concert by Israeli and Palestinian musicians from the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, created by conductor Daniel Barenboim. The Munich conference should not be underestimated, says MO expert Yasmina Asrarguis.

While its president Christoph Heusgen emphasized at the start of the week that there have rarely been so many crises in the world for 60 years, 180 political leaders from around the world are expected...

“Peace through dialogue”: the 60th Munich conference on security in the face of war

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (back) and the head of the Bavarian State Chancellery Florian Herrmann, alongside US Ambassador to Germany Amy Gutmann, at Munich Airport, this Thursday, February 15. AP - Thomas Kienzle

By: RFI Follow

The Munich Conference opens this Friday in

Germany

. A major diplomatic meeting, it will obviously be dominated by the war in

Ukraine

and the conflict in

Gaza

. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will be there on Saturday after the signing this Friday in Berlin and Paris of bilateral security agreements between his country, Germany and

France

. Two years ago, he was in Munich a few days before Russia invaded his

country

Volodymyr Zelensky

will undoubtedly plead on Saturday for greater support from the international community for his country.

On the other hand, the situation in Gaza will be on everyone's lips. Israeli President Isaac Herzog, the Palestinian Prime Minister as well as regional officials and even American Secretary of State Antony Blinken are expected. Behind the scenes at the Bayerischer Hof hotel, numerous discussions will take place to try to resolve the situation, humanitarian in the short term, political in the medium term. The conference will symbolically open with a concert by Israeli and Palestinian musicians from the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, created by conductor Daniel Barenboim.

An opportunity to seize

In any case, this meeting is “

an opportunity

” to be seized, believes Yasmina Asrarguis, researcher specializing in the geopolitics of the Middle East. “

The Oslo Accords began with conversations in Norway between professors and Palestinians,

” she recalls, before adding that “

small conversations and small steps can prepare for a broader peace conference

.”

The Munich conference should not be underestimated.

00:56

12 GERMANY _Son Yasmina Asrarguis, MO expert, the Munich Conf can be useful for peace in the PO

Julien Chavanne

According to her, this conference is also an opportunity for Europe to “

show its presence on the international scene,

seize geostrategic opportunities and position itself as a mediator

”. The October 7 attack and Israel's military response put the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the agenda. “

It’s already a huge step and we must continue. We must continue to talk to the different actors on site and not limit ourselves to visits to Kibbutz and wait for the American administration to do the work for Europe

,” adds the specialist.

Finally, two absentees will play a central role in Munich for this UN mini-general assembly. First,

Donald Trump

, whose latest statements on NATO

have

raised numerous criticisms in Europe. While the American vice-president will speak this Friday afternoon, Europeans will not fail to react and discuss the challenges facing them in the event of Donald Trump's victory. And the other big absentee will be Vladimir Putin and other unwanted Russian officials.

Wang Yi, the head of Chinese diplomacy, on a European tour

This year's Munich conference welcomes the head of Chinese diplomacy who will then travel to Spain and France. A tour which aims to strengthen ties between Beijing and the West.

By Julien Chavanne

One thing is certain: The speech of the head of Chinese diplomacy will be listened to with great attention by his European counterparts. In Munich, Wang Yi will outline what Beijing is proposing to bring East and West together as the world is plunged into several crises across the globe. In particular, what he will say about the war in Ukraine or the conflict between Israel and Hamas is eagerly awaited.

After Munich, the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs will visit Spain, a first in 6 years and the beginning according to China of “50 new years” of partnership between the two countries. Madrid and Beijing are coming together in particular to condemn the Israeli response on Gaza.

Finally, Wang Yi's last stop will be in France where the Chinese diplomat will come to celebrate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Paris and Beijing. Many cultural events are planned for 2024.

By visiting these three countries, Wang Yi has the same objective: to renew ties between China and Europe. But it will first be necessary to appease the frustration of Europeans, particularly regarding the lack of commercial reciprocity and Chinese support for Vladimir Putin.

Read alsoOlaf Scholz in the United States: aid to Ukraine at the heart of the German Chancellor's visit

“Peace through dialogue”: the 60th Munich conference on security in the face of war

“Peace through dialogue”: the 60th Munich conference on security in the face of war

An opportunity to seize

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