Munich Security Conference

07 Feb 2009

Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, joined senior decision makers from around the world in Munich on 6-7 February to discuss a wide range of global security issues.

Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, attended the Munich Security Conference on 6-7 February.

He joined senior decision makers, including heads of state and government, defence ministers, foreign ministers from Europe, China, America, Iran, Pakistan and India; and notable academics and business leaders.

The discussions focused on a range of global security risks and challenges that are set to confront the world over the coming year. The specific topics for debate were European Security, nonproliferation of conventional weapons and the future of nuclear weapons, Afghanistan, the challenges of global governance and the Western Balkans.

During the meeting David Miliband discussed the issue of European Security, with particular focus on the role of NATO, Russia, oil and gas supplies and the Middle East. He also delivered a statement during a panel discussion.

Read the remarks prepared for the conference by the Foreign Secretary

The conference first took place in 1962 and, with a few exceptions, has met every year since. The first meeting was attended by Ministers, members of parliament, high-ranking representatives of the armed forces, scientists and representatives of the media. The focus on the early conferences was foreign and security policy challenges in European and American relations.