- February 18, 2026
- -
- February 18, 2026
On February 18, Aspen Germany hosted its MSC Recap in Berlin, following the 62nd Munich Security Conference. The event provided a focused setting to carry forward the debates from Munich and to assess their implications for European and transatlantic security at a time of sustained geopolitical transition.
The Munich Security Conference unfolded against the backdrop of Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine, intensifying great power competition, instability in the Middle East, and growing uncertainty about the future of the transatlantic relationship. The tone in Munich was sober and pragmatic – an assessment that shaped the subsequent discussion in Berlin.
The panel featured Dr. Hans-Peter Bartels, President of the Gesellschaft für Sicherheitspolitik and former Parliamentary State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry of Defence, Prof. Dr. Tobias Bunde, Director of Research & Policy at the Munich Security Conference, Dr. Dr. Tobias Lindner, Former Minister of State at the German Federal Foreign Office (2021–2025) and Senior Associate Fellow for Transatlantic Relations at DGAP, Paul Horvath, CEO of Orchard Global and Board Member of the American Friends of the Munich Security Conference, and Anja Wehler-Schoeck, International Editor and Member of the Editorial Board at Der Tagesspiegel.
Rather than simply revisiting key statements from Munich, the discussion centered on their strategic implications. A broad consensus emerged that the current geopolitical shift is structural rather than temporary, with strategic competition defining the international environment for the foreseeable future. The transatlantic relationship was described as undergoing recalibration rather than renewal, as underlying divergences over sovereignty, trade, and strategic priorities continue to shape the partnership despite changes in tone. Europe’s responsibility for its own security is no longer in question; the challenge lies in translating ambition into coherent and timelyimplementation.
Participants also emphasized that nuclear deterrence has returned to mainstream strategic debate amid modernization programs and weakening arms control regimes. At the same time, technology, artificial intelligence, and information warfare were identified as central arenas of geopolitical competition. Finally, the discussion underscored that multipolarity is no longer a projection but an operational reality, with middle powers increasingly pursuing strategic flexibility over fixed bloc alignment.
In the subsequent open-chair format, the debate was deliberately broadened: participants contributed their own assessments, raised critical questions, and expanded on the panel’s perspectives. The result was a dynamic and interactive exchange that connected diverse professional experiences and deepened the strategic reflection.
