Nottingham connected
rise in refugees fleeing to Europe – the challenges were
clear, but the solutions less so. The Conference tried to
tackle these, with a particular focus on the role of the
West. Uneasiness about failed responses was palpable.
Side-lining Africa in discussions about
violent extremism leaves a blind spot
Those present from the US, from Senator John
McCain to, among others, Vice President Mike Pence
and Defense Secretary James Mattis, tried to quell
fears about the new foreign policy orientation of the
Trump administration. They reaffirmed that the US
is still very much part of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organisation (NATO) – and also its major financial
backer. However, uncertainty about Trump’s often
erratic stance remained. This added to the scepticism of
whether the US really still is a workable partner: almost
as if many people would rather wait for Trump to tweet
his views than to believe his emissaries.
Unsurprisingly, just hours after Pence tried to
reassure participants of the US’ continued allegiance
with Europe, Trump lambasted Europe’s stance on
migration and terrorism – citing Germany’s refugee
policy and a made-up terrorist incident in Sweden.
This unpredictability could likely continue to foment
mistrust. The question then becomes how, in a time
of uncertainty and unpredictability, the world’s
challenges can be addressed coherently. At the Munich
Security Conference – 54 years since the first one – the
focus is still Euro-Atlantic. Many attending still believe
that the transatlantic alliance – of which the EU and the
US are key cogs – has the answers.
Everyone at Munich Pretended Everything Was
Normal, with Africa, Asia and Middle East ignored.
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President Kagame of Rwanda was drowned
out by the noise of Trump, fake news and
panic over the rise of new global powers
The focus was conspicuously on the role of
Europe and the US in making the world a
better place: a possible navel-gazing exercise
that could mean losing sight of the rest of
the world – to everyone’s detriment. While
critical issues affecting Africa, Asia and the
Middle East were part of the discussions at
the conference, they were hardly the focus –
and participation from these regions remains
significantly low.
Africa, specifically, was given little attention
– even though the range of issues discussed
were directly relevant to and for the continent.
For her part, at least, Germany’s Chancellor,
Angela Merkel, did try to make it clear that
the world’s problems are interconnected and
that nations – including those in Africa – must
work together. Her view is that ignoring other
regions would be perilous: a view reflected in
Germany’s proposed new partnership between
Africa and Europe for development, peace
and a better future. So, in order to address the
world’s challenges coherently, the discussions
(and discussants) should be truly global.
Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame was one of
few African speakers at the Conference. While his
contribution was critical for Africa and the world,
it was drowned in the noise of Trump, fake news
and panic over the rise of global powers from
anywhere but the West.
If, as the conveners of the Munich Security
Conference fear, we are indeed entering a post-
truth, post-West, post-order era in global peace
and security, then it may be time to be post-
nostalgia too. Post-nostalgia means accepting
that in 2017 discussions cannot mirror those
in 1963 when the inaugural Munich Security
Conference was held. It also means involving
regions that were not part of the traditional
Munich mix as integral voices in discussions.
Decisions affecting Africa, the Middle East and
Asia require that these regions be properly
represented and consulted. More should be done
by all involved. Part of that would be to ensure that
African realities are given sufficient prominence.
If the global world order really is shifting, then
part of that realignment must involve recognising
that the world is not just transatlantic – it spans
southwards and eastwards too.