"The 62nd Munich Security Conference opened on 13 February 2026 in Munich, Germany, and this year's gathering feels different from past editions. For decades, Munich was about jets, troops, and treaties. Today, cyber and AI are no longer peripheral; they are part of the architecture of security itself. Cyber risks, digital infrastructure, and emerging technologies like AI now sit alongside tanks and treaties on the agenda as European leaders try to make sense of a world where digital threats and geopolitical tensions are deeply intertwined."
"In this context, cyber threats and disinformation campaigns sit side-by-side with missiles on the agenda, and delegates acted accordingly. One of the most striking takeaways from early sessions was the call from Germany's intelligence leadership for greater latitude to counter hybrid threats, especially cyber attacks and digital sabotage linked to geopolitical rivals. That marks a clear recognition that state security no longer stops at the network perimeter."
The Munich Security Conference showcased a strategic shift where cyber, AI, and digital infrastructure rank alongside tanks and treaties as central security concerns. European leaders signalled that digital threats, disinformation, and hybrid attacks now shape geopolitical tensions and defence planning. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that the post-World War II order is fraying and urged vigilance over digital and geopolitical defenses. Germany's intelligence leadership called for broader authority to counter hybrid threats, including cyber attacks and digital sabotage. Emmanuel Macron emphasized Europe's need for geopolitical power supported by domestic tech capabilities and digital resilience. Tech strategy and regulation increasingly anchor strategic autonomy debates.
Read at TNW | Eu
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