The impending anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine dominated this year’s Munich Security Conference, leading panel after panel to warn about the breakdown of a rules-based global order and prescribe steps to prevent future conflicts. Meanwhile, voices from the global south, who were present on the conference stage in unprecedented numbers, pushed to broaden the conversation.
There were calls to expand the definition of security concerns to include the growing destructive effects of climate change. And there were challenges to the efforts to reinforce the current global system and align against those who seek to undermine it. Global south representatives pointed out that the existing architecture was largely developed without their input and does not necessarily respond to their needs — even as some rejected calls to pick a side in the trans-Atlantic fights against Russia and China.
Speaking at the opening town hall, Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo called for a “critical look at organizations that govern the world’s activities” and pushed back against warnings that it would be risky to do so amid the current confluence of global emergencies. “Crises are the best time to make reforms,” he said.
About the author
Andrew Green@_andrew_green
Andrew Green, a 2025 Alicia Patterson Fellow, works as a contributing reporter for Devex from Berlin.
