Defense, Merz: “World order has changed, we are in an era of great powers”

Munich (Germany), 13 Feb. (LaPresse) – The international order, based on rules and rights, is “on the brink of destruction,” as highlighted in the report from the Munich Security Conference. “I am afraid we must say it clearly: that order, imperfect as it was at its best, no longer exists as it once did,” and it has “changed more profoundly than we had imagined.” This was stated by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in his opening speech at the Munich Security Conference 2026. “In recent years, one can perceive here a climate marked by growing tensions and conflicts around the world. And at least since the Russian aggression against Ukraine four years ago, we have entered a new phase of open conflicts that keep us constantly alert and change our world more deeply than we had imagined. I am afraid we must say it clearly: that order, imperfect as it was at its best, no longer exists as it once did,” said Merz. “As Peter Sloterdijk recently wrote, Europe has concluded a long ‘pause from world history.’ We have entered an era once again dominated by power politics. Russia’s violent revisionism, its brutal attack on Ukraine, is only the most evident manifestation of this phenomenon,” Merz added.