Munich Security Conference opens Friday with focus on US-Europe relations

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has reached Germany as he's set to attend the 62nd Munich Security Conference.

The security conference will be held from today to Sunday in Germany, with leaders from multiple countries attending.

An academic in international relations says how China and the United States handle their relations with Europe will be front and centre in this year's meeting.

The annual Munich Security Conference is being held from Friday to Sunday.

Security has been tightened in and around the hotel hosting the event.

More than 1,000 representatives from around the world are expected to attend, including leaders from 60 countries or regions, heads of over 50 international organisations such as the European Union and NATO, as well as around 100 foreign and defence ministers.

The US will send its largest-ever delegation to the conference.

Organisers earlier released the Munich Security Report 2026, which said the world has entered an era of "wrecking-ball politics".

The report argues that Washington has deviated from fundamental elements of the existing international order, bringing wide-ranging impacts to Europe, the Indo-Pacific region -- and areas such as global trade, development cooperation and humanitarian assistance.

The report calls for efforts to explore governance approaches that are less dependent on US leadership.

Martin Chung, Associate Professor at the Department of Government and International Studies of Hong Kong Baptist University says the Greenland situation has undermined

the collective defence alliance in the West. He said if a partner could potentially become an aggressor, it raises questions about trust.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi will also attend the conference following his visit to Hungary.

Chung says China received much appreciation during its participation in last year's Munich Security Conference, which demonstrated Beijing's stability and maturity.

However, Europe does not automatically regard China as a natural ally.

He added that deteriorating US-Europe relations do not necessarily mean Europe will pivot towards China, and Beijing would need to take concrete actions to win support.