MYL Annual Meetings

For this year’s Annual Meeting, almost 80 MYL Alumni from more than 34 countries came together in Lisbon to discuss the importance of reliable partnerships and new alliances in an increasingly complex international order, as well as how to shape a multipolar world.

What does multipolarisation mean for the cooperation between the Global North and the Global South? A panel discussion revolving around this question featuring former Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defence, now European Union Representative for the Sahel region, João Gomes Cravinho, marked the beginning of the programme. Afterwards, the Portuguese Minister of Defence, Nuno Melo, provided insights into Portugal’s strategic agenda, its security policy anchored in Europe and NATO, and its support for Ukraine. After a brief break with a culinary highlight – freshly baked pastéis de nata – a discussion with the Minister of State and Finance, Joaquím Miranda Sarmento, shed light on how fiscal room for manoeuvre can constrain or enable defence policy.

In the afternoon, participants continued these debates in smaller groups: Topics ranged from peace and stability in the Middle East, the links between maritime security in the Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific, hybrid threats and lessons from Ukraine’s defence to the nexus between climate, conflict and food insecurity. The day concluded with a reception at the German Embassy in Lisbon.

On the second day, the MYL alumni continued these discussions in workshops. In five small groups they examined democratic resilience in the face of disinformation and polarisation, artificial intelligence and the future of warfare, the conditions for success and effectiveness of peace negotiations, as well as the global anti-gender backlash and its impact on geopolitics. Furthermore, the participants developed scenarios for the future of Euro-Atlantic relations.

The Annual Meeting concluded with the panel discussion, ‘Coming to Your Defences: Strengthening European Defence”, which featured Marcos Perestrello, president of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, followed by a joint lunch on the banks of the Tagus.

How will the UK conduct its foreign and security policy under the newly elected Starmer government? What role do alliances, the multilateral system and history play in this? Members of the Munich Young Leader network gathered in London in September to discuss these and many other questions. Almost 100 participants from over 45 countries shared their perspectives on international affairs and engaged in discussions with senior government officials, thereby jointly creating a much-needed space for international exchange at the personal level.

Minister Catherine West opened the discussions with a statement on the UK’s foreign policy agenda in the historic library of One Whitehall Place. Afterwards, the MYL challenged the idea of a shifting world order on a panel and spoke about the role of international organizations in times of an increasingly deadlocked United Nations Security Council. Former Defense Secretary Ben Wallace and journalist Shashank Joshi (The Economist) analysed perspectives for Ukraine and European security before Lord Tariq Ahmad shared his thoughts on successful migration policy with the MYL. In the following discussion, the MYL and the panelists, among them Shadow Foreign Minister Alicia Kearns and Sir Simon McDonald, former Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Head of the Diplomatic Service, addressed the multiple crises in the Middle East as well as the role of the Commonwealth organization in multilateral cooperation. The subsequent dinner at the House of Lords was celebrated as a special highlight; the conference day concluded with a talk on the state of democracy in the super-election year.

The following day, the MYL visited the exhibition Artist and Society at Tate Modern museum before taking part in a debate on economic security. In the following leadership workshop, participants then discussed the mental health challenges of the foreign and security work environment and how to address them.

After a boat trip on the river Thames, some of the MYL visited the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom, where its history is reflected in the unique architecture.

From 24 to 26 August 2023, the Munich Young Leaders (MYL) Alumni came together in New Delhi for their 11th Annual Meeting. Once again gathering participants from more than 20 countries all across the world, discussions on the future of the world order, multilateralism, climate change, international security and relations between the so-called “Global South” and “Global North” dominated the agenda.

In light of the G20 summit taking place in New Delhi shortly after the conference, the programme began with a panel discussion on the future of multilateral cooperation – bringing together voices from India, China and the European Union. Following a discussion on regional security, Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas of the Republic of India, joined the group for a conversation on energy security and sustainability.

After further discussions on energy transition, women in peace and security, food security and its weaponization, as well as digital transformation, the network headed to the historical complex of Qutub Minar before coming together for a night cap session on the present and future of India as the world’s biggest democracy.

The final conference day was marked by discussions on climate change and economic growth and competing visions for a global order in Delhi’s historical Bikaner House, closing out with a conversation on India’s views and priorities in foreign policy with Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of India.

Naturally, those members who stayed another day did not forsake a visit to India’s historic Taj Mahal to round off the programme.

This year’s meeting was organized by Körber-Stiftung and the Munich Security Conference in cooperation with MYL Alumni from India, coordinated by Ambika Vishwanath, Anil Antony, Abhijit Iyer-Mitra, and Jaiveer Shergill.

After two years break due to the pandemic, the Munich Young Leaders (MYL) Alumni finally met again in person. The 10^th Annual Meeting of the Munich Young Leaders took place from 1 to 3 September in Tallinn. Members of the network from over 20 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and America met with high-ranking politicians from Estonia.

The conference programme began with a conversation with the Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas in the Riigikogu, the Estonian Parliament. Panel discussions on European and transatlantic security architecture and energy security followed. Another highlight was an all-female panel in the evening on international cooperation in cybersecurity with former Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid at the Vabamu (Museum of Occupations and Freedom), followed by a tour of the current exhibition on Estonia’s history as a digital nation.

The program was rounded off by a trip to the NATO base in Tapa. Here the MYL alumni discussed the current threat situation for NATO’s Eastern Flank with representatives of the Estonian Armed Forces and the Estonian Ministry of Defence.

The Annual Meeting was organized by Körber-Stiftung, the Munich Security Conference and Olga Sõtnik, Munich Young Leader from Estonia.

On the occasion of the 10-year anniversary of the Munich Young Leaders (MYL) programme and the opening of the 74th United Nations General Assembly the Munich Young Leaders Alumni have gathered in New York City from 19 to 21 September 2019. About 90 Munich Young Leaders Alumni from Europe, Asia, Africa and the United States met to discuss the future of multilateralism and current issues of foreign and security politics.

At the opening of this event, the new publication „Multilateralism is Dead. Long Live Multilateralism!“ was launched at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters. Over the past few years, multilateralism has been deemed under attack. Yet, there are numerous instances and areas where multilateral cooperation continues to work successfully. In the publication, a joint project with the Munich Security Conference, the Munich Young Leaders present some of these multilateral best practices.

For three days, the experts from governments, parliaments, think tanks, media and business discussed current foreign affairs and security challenges with senior political experts and policy makers such as former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, United Nations Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo, María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, former President of the United Nations General Assembly, and former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

In the various sessions, the participants discussed multilateral cooperation against terrorism, in conflict prevention, and city cooperation in the fight against climate change, as well as foreign affairs and security challenges in Asia, the Middle East and the transatlantic relations.

The Anniversary Gala Dinner at the Metropolitan Museum of Arts was the highlight of the cultural programme of this year’s Annual Meeting.

2019

The 2019 class of MYL is the first with a majority of female participants and speakers. Christine Lagarde, Ivanka Trump, Kersti Kaljulaid and many others join the MYL for discussions at the MSC.

On the occasion of the 10 year anniversary the MYL alumni gather in New York City to discuss the future of multilateralism.

2018

Among the interlocutors for the 10th class of Munich Young Leaders at the MSC are Tzipi Livni, H.R. McMaster, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani.

In September, King Philipp VI of Spain attends the MYL Annual Meeting in Madrid.

2017

Speakers at the 2017 Munich Young Leaders programme at the MSC include Ursula von der Leyen, Anne Applebaum, and Fatou Bensouda.

The 2017 MYL Annual Meeting takes place in Moscow.

2016

In the run-up to the 2016 NATO Summit the Munich Young Leaders alumni meet for the MYL Annual Meeting in Warsaw to discuss the future of security and defence policy in Europe and beyond.

At the MSC, Victoria Nuland, Fu Ying, and Amos Gilad exchange views with the Munich Young Leaders class of 2016.

2015

For the 5th MYL Annual Meeting, the Munich Young Leaders cross the Atlantic Ocean. In discussions at the US Congress and the White House they exchange views on the future of transatlantic relations with policy makers in Washington, DC.

Among this year’s Munich Young Leaders interlocutors at the MSC are Kevin Rudd, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, and Alexander Vershbow.

2014

On the occasion of 50 years of the Munich Security Conference and 55 years of Körber-Stiftung the Munich Young Leaders alumni gather in Wildbad Kreuth in Bavaria for the MYL Annual Meeting.

At the MSC, the 2014 class of Munich Young Leaders gets the chance to talk to Mohammad Javad Zarif, Saeb Erekat, Louise Arbour, and many others.

2013

The Munich Young Leaders network is growing: more than 100 promising foreign and security policy makers and experts have already joined the programme.

In their discussions at the MSC the Munich Young Leaders class of 2013 engages with Ng Eng Hen, Anne-Marie Slaughter, and Faisal Ibn Al Hussein.

2012

In the aftermath of the Arab Spring the Munich Young Leaders alumni from Morocco host the MYL Annual Meeting in Rabat.

Speakers at the 2012 Munich Young Leaders programme at the MSC include Alexander Stubb and Ahmet Davutoglu.

2011

At the MSC the 2011 class of Munich Young Leaders engages with George Soros, Michèle Alliot-Marie, and Toomas Hendrik Ilves.

The Munich Young Leaders alumni gather in Kyiv for the MYL Annual Meeting.

2010

The Munich Young Leaders programme enters the second year. At the MSC the 2010 class of Munich Young Leaders discusses the future of Euro-Atlantic security and global disarmament with Carl Bildt, Helga Schmid, John McCain, and many others.

The Munich Young Leaders classes of 2009 and 2010 meet in Berlin for the first MYL Annual Meeting.

2009

A group of 25 promising young professionals from 17 countries participates in the Munich Security Conference (MSC). They form the first class of Munich Young Leaders and meet with high-level politicians and experts, including Henry Kissinger.