MSC 2026: Shared responsibility in uncertain times

Security issues, defense technology, and social trust: Atlantik-Brücke brought together experts from politics, academia, and business at the Munich Security Conference.

Atlantik-Brücke was once again a guest at this year’s Munich Security Conference (MSC) with several side events. In his opening speech, Sigmar Gabriel, Chairman of Atlantik-Brücke, emphasized: “The recent strains in the transatlantic relationship pose a severe challenge, especially for Europe, and create uncertainty within the alliance. Differences over burden-sharing, threat perceptions, and economic issues highlight the fragility of our partnership. More than ever, Europe must invest in its own security, reduce dependencies and strengthen resilience against external pressures. Germany has a central role to play in this effort and must take on greater responsibility for European security. “

The series of events organized by Atlantik-Brücke kicked off with a dinner at which Ulrike Malmendier, Fabian Hoffmann, and Nico Lange discussed “The Role of Private Wealth for the Future of Defense.” This was followed by panel discussions on “Technology, Innovation & Power” with representatives from academia, business, and politics, as well as a conversation between FBI Deputy Director Andrew Bailey and Atlantik-Brücke Managing Director Julia Friedlander.

Other program highlights included the traditional Female Network Event with Bärbel Hestert-Vecoli (Edelman Germany), Zhanna Nemtsova (Boris Nentsov Foundation for Freedom), and Ann Cathrin Riedel (NeXT e.V.) on the challenges facing democratic institutions under pressure, as well as the joint presentation of the Edelman Trust Barometer with the BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt and Edelman. Atlantik-Brücke was supported in this by long-standing partners such as the BMW Foundation, DTCP Capital, KPMG, and Gilead Sciences.