Preparations for the Munich Security Conference in February 2026 are overshadowed by significant diplomatic rifts. As announced on Friday, US Vice President J.D. Vance has unexpectedly cancelled his participation in the security policy forum. No official reason was given for the cancellation. However, Vance had already caused diplomatic irritation the previous year with sharp criticism of European allies and accusations of censorship on social media. The cancellation also comes at a time when the relationship between Washington and Brussels is strained by Donald Trump's unpredictable foreign policy, particularly regarding Greenland.
At the same time, the conference leadership was forced to correct its guest list. Following an explicit request from the German Federal Government, the invitation to the Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghtschi was withdrawn. A spokesperson for the Foreign Office emphasized that the participation of Iranian government representatives was inappropriate given the violent suppression of protests in Iran. Originally, the organizers, under the motto 'Peace through Dialogue,' had intended to include difficult actors.
Away from the conference preparations, a major policy shift in German Syria policy is imminent. Chancellor Friedrich Merz will receive the new Syrian interim president Ahmed al-Scharaa in Berlin next Tuesday. The goal of the meeting is to discuss options for the return of Syrian refugees to their home country. Merz holds the position that following the fall of the Assad regime at the end of 2024, the reasons for flight have largely ceased to exist, meaning deportations of criminals and dangerous individuals could also be accelerated.
