SIPRI had an active presence at the 2026 Munich Security Conference (MSC) on 13–15 February. During the conference, SIPRI co-hosted or was invited to a number of side events, high-level bilateral discussions and spoke with Swiss Radio and Television and the Polish public broadcaster, TVP.
The Art of the ‘Peace’ Deal? Rethinking Diplomacy in the Trump Era
On 14 February, SIPRI and the International Crisis Group hosted a roundtable discussion that examined the impact action by the United States has on efforts to end wars. With welcome remarks from SIPRI Director Karim Haggag and Executive Vice President of the International Crisis Group Richard Atwood, the conversation explored how the new US administration has, in principle, placed greater emphasis on peacemaking. Recent peacemaking efforts have been based on ceasefires or other quick fixes that leave core disputes unresolved. Nevertheless, US involvement has in some places re-energized peacemaking and opened space for diplomacy.
Sibylle Bauer, SIPRI Director of Studies, contributed to the discussions. Other high-level participants included: Sigrid Kaag, Co-Chair of the Board of Directors, United Nations Foundation; Juan Manuel Santos Calderón, Former President of Colombia, Chair of the Elders; Khalid Mohammed Al-Naemi, Head of the Intelligence and Security Authority, State of Qatar; and Binaifer Nowrojee, President, Open Society Foundations.
Peace on a Shoestring? Maintaining International Crisis Management in Times of Financial Scarcity
On 15 February, SIPRI and the Center for International Peace Operations (ZIF) hosted a high-level side event on the future of international crisis management. The breakfast discussion focused on the continued urgent need for crisis management, which makes maintaining political support and sustainable funding for multilateral conflict management crucial.
SIPRI Director Karim Haggag and ZIF Executive Director Astrid Irrgang provided welcome remarks. Jaïr van der Lijn, Director of the SIPRI Peace Operations and Conflict Management Programme, gave reflections on the issues based on both the discussions and SIPRI research. Other speakers included: Mo Ibrahim, Founder and Chair, Mo Ibrahim Foundation; Ottilia Anna Maunganidze, Head of Special Projects, Institute for Security Studies; Amre Moussa, Chairperson, Interpeace; Habib Ur Rehman Mayar, Deputy General Secretary, g7+ Secretariat; and Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict, United Nations. The discussion was initiated with interventions from various perspectives, including Africa, Southeast Asia, the Arab world, China, and conflict-affected and fragile states, before a wider conversation took place. This conversation explored how international crisis management by the United Nations and regional organizations can survive current geopolitical and financial pressure. Participants also examined whether there are alternative instruments, approaches or organizations that could step in to meet the demand for crisis management.
The Security Benefits of Development Aid
On 13 February, SIPRI and the Kiel Institute for the World Economy co-hosted a dinner on the margins of MSC entitled ‘The Security Benefits of Development Aid’. The dinner brought together senior figures from the development and security sector to discuss the ways in which development aid can bring security and stability benefits, to both recipients and donors. The discussion sought to encourage exchange between the development and security communities and unpack challenges and solutions—both in theory and in practice—to realising those benefits.