Munich Moments

It's been a week since this year's Munich Security Conference began.

Foreign Policy editor in chief Ravi Agrawal was there covering it all, and today we're going to hear his interview with Elbridge Colby, the U.S. undersecretary of defense for policy—essentially the top policymaker in the U.S. Defense Department. The two spoke on the conference's main stage.

Many say it's hard to get a clear take on U.S. President Donald Trump's current foreign policy, but Colby is at the center of it.  Colby was one of the main authors of the Trump administration's National Security Strategy, which he called “a clear and powerful articulation of his common-sense, 'America First,' 'peace through strength' agenda.”

And, as you’ll hear, Colby believes that the United States should be turning its attention toward China, and that means moving a lot of its attention away from Europe.

For FP's coverage of this year's Munich Security Conference, check out:

⁠https://foreignpolicy.com/projects/munich-security-conference/⁠

And for more on the conference, head to: ⁠https://securityconference.org/en/msc-2026/

The Munich Security Conference 2026 is finally here!

Next week we'll hear a special conversation recorded from Munich led by Foreign Policy editor-in-chief Ravi Agrawal. For now, enjoy the live stream of this year's conference here.

https://securityconference.org

And follow Foreign Policy's coverage of the conference here:

https://link.foreignpolicy.com/join/msc-26

On today’s episode, we’re going to go back to the original Munich moment when the conference began in 1963. We’ll see how the door was opened for the Russians to come in and join the conversation after the Cold War ended. And then we’re going to hear about another open door, the one to NATO membership, and the role the conference played in all of it. Finally we’ll look at the current posture of Russia toward the West amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Check out⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the latest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from the Munich Security Conference, which starts next week! Our next episode will feature a special conversation recorded from Munich.

On Feb. 14, 2025, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance gave a speech that rocked the entire Munich Security Conference. The speech’s harsh tone and condemnation of the United States’ European allies was a shock to many in the room, and some say it was a turning point in U.S.-European relations.

Join host Jessie Graham for a look back at the speech and for an analysis of the state of the trans-Atlantic alliance.

Check out⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠the latest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ from the Munich Security Conference.

By any measure, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s 2022 speech at the Munich Security Conference was a bold endeavor. Not only was he in and out of the country in less than 12 hours, but Zelensky also delivered an impassioned speech during a time when Russia was on the precipice of invading his country.

Join host Jessie Graham for a look at how Zelensky’s forceful stance against Russia at conference has since been seen as a pivotal moment for his leadership on the world stage.

Check out⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠the latest⁠⁠⁠ from the Munich Security Conference.