Munich Security Conference 2026: Key Takeaways and Speakers
The 2026 Munich Security Conference focused on mounting global instability and the strain on the rules-based international order, with particular emphasis on the future of transatlantic relations. While U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to NATO, he urged European allies to increase defence spending and assume greater strategic responsibility. European leaders responded by acknowledging the importance of the alliance while also stressing the need for greater strategic autonomy in response to geopolitical uncertainty.
Ukraine remained central to discussions, with President Zelensky calling for sustained military support, long-term security guarantees, and continued progress towards European integration. Broader debates also addressed emerging security threats, including cyber risks and regional conflicts, as well as the need to reinforce multilateral cooperation. Overall, the conference underscored both the challenges facing Western unity and a shared commitment to strengthening collective security frameworks.
Chartwell works with a range of international security and geopolitical experts who can help provide insight and clarity to your event:
German diplomat & global security expert
- Deputy Foreign Minister of Berlin (1998-2001)
- Chairman (2008–2022) & Current Interim Chair, Munich Security Conference
- German Ambassador to the US and UK (2001-2008)
Historian and leading voice on geopolitics and democracy
- Expert on International Affairs and Foreign Policy, Staff Writer for The Atlantic
- Pulitzer Prize winning, NYT Best Selling Author
- Senior Fellow of the Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University
Security strategist and global affairs leader
- Serves as CEO of the Munich Security Conference Foundation, shaping global security policy.
- Board Member of the Munich Security Office.
- Co-author of The Art of Diplomacy published in 2022.
Expert on Middle East security, Iran, and Gulf regional dynamics
- Director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme, Chatham House
- Lecturer in the Middle East Studies for Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS Europe) in Bologna
- Author of ‘Action and Reaction: Women and Politics in Iran’
Senior military leader on defence strategy and global security
- Chief of the Defence Staff (Dec 2021–Sep 2025)
- Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (2021)
- Awarded the US Legion of Merit (Sep 2023)
Leading voice on geopolitics, security, and international policy
- Director and CEO, Chatham House (2022-present)
- Director of the Institute for Government (2016 and 2022)
- Editor and Chief Executive, Prospect magazine (2010-2016)
Strategic military leader on readiness and resilience
- NATO’s highest ranking military officer until January 2025
- Chair of the NATO Military Committee (2021–2025)
- Chief of Defence of the Netherlands (2017–2021)
Insight on global economics and financial markets
- Named one of the “Most Powerful Women in the World” by Forbes
- Expert on global economic issues
- Editor-in-Chief, The Economist (2015-present
U.S. diplomat and geopolitical strategist on transatlantic security
- U.S Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations (2017 – 2019)
- U.S Ambassador to NATO (2008-2009)
- President and Founder, Alliance Strategic Advisors, LLC (present)
Senior Chinese diplomatic voice on global affairs and statecraft
- Chinese Ambassador to United Kingdom (2006-2009)Enquire
- Distinguished Chinese diplomat
- Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, People’s Republic of China (2009-2013)
Global leader on democracy, security, and transatlantic cooperation
- Distinguished speaker on international leadership and geopolitical issues
- Secretary General of NATO (2009-2014)
- Prime Minister of Denmark (2001-2009)
Global authority on digital regulation and EU tech power
- Professor at Columbia Law School
- Bestselling author
- Leading Scholar on the Digital Economy and the European Union
Leading analyst of defence, intelligence, and geopolitical risk
- Defence Editor, The Economist
- Advisory Board, RUSI – Royal United Services Institute
- Weekly Newsletter, ‘The War Room’, has 90,000+ subscribers, he has more than 200,000 followers on X
European foreign policy and global strategy specialist
- Director of the Instituto Affari Internazionali, one’s of the world’s most prestigious think-tanks in the field of international relations
- Part-time professor at the School of Transnational Government, European University Institute, Florence
- Author of “A Green and Global Europe” (October 2022)
Global strategist on leadership, freedom, and the future of AI
- Vocal and articulate democracy campaigner
- Widely regarded as the greatest chess player of all time
- Became youngest ever chess World Champion, aged only 22
Insight on China, economic policy, and global trade dynamics
- Author of ‘Private Revolutions- Coming of Age in a New China’
- FT’s first Europe-China Correspondent
- Co Founder of ‘Rethinking Economics’
Senior military strategist on resilience, risk, and modern conflict
- Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (2014–2017)
- Deputy Commander, NATO ISAF Afghanistan (140,000 personnel)
- Governor, Royal Hospital Chelsea; KCB OBE DL
EU crisis diplomacy and strategy expert
- President of the European Council (2019-2024)
- Belgium’s youngest Prime Minister at 38
- Led EU’s COVID-19 recovery and Ukraine support efforts
Authority on global geopolitics and emerging powers
- Editor-in-Chief, Foreign Policy (2020–present)
- Host of FP Live: Interviews with world leaders and policymakers
- Author of India Connected, acclaimed by Financial Times and Wall Street Journal
China–Asia geopolitics commentator
- Editor-in-Chief, POLITICO Europe (2021 – 2025)
- Journalist of the Year at the Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA) Editorial Excellence Awards in 2010
- Author, The Bo Xilai Scandal
Global security and intelligence leadership
- Former Chief (‘C’) of MI6, the UK Secret Intelligence Service (2020–2025)
- Political Director at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (2018 – 2020)
- British Ambassador to Turkey (2014 – 2017)
National security and geopolitics adviser
- Chairman of the Atlantic Futures Forum
- Former Cabinet Secretary & Head of the Civil Service (2018-2020)
- UK National Security Adviser (2017-2020)
UK foreign policy and national security strategist
- Chief Foreign Policy Advisor to the UK Prime Minister (2019 – 2024)
- UK representative to the NATO Secretary General’s Reflections Group for the 2022 Strategic Concept.
- Professor of History and Foreign Policy at King’s College London and award-winning author of Citizen Clem, Realpolitik, and Talking to Terrorists.