German Defence Minister Pistorius Calls for Radical Shift at MSC 2026: “If the World Changes, We Need to Change Too”
MUNICH – In a defining moment at the 62nd Munich Security Conference (MSC 2026), German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius issued a stark call for adaptation in the face of a deteriorating global order. Speaking in an exclusive interview with DW’s Nina Haase, Pistorius declared that the era of stability is over, urging Western nations to abandon old dogmas.
“The world we used to live in has changed. And it won’t be the same than before. So if the world changes, we need to change, too,” Pistorius told DW, setting the tone for a conference grappling with what organizers have termed “wrecking-ball politics.”
Deep Search: A World “Under Destruction”
Pistorius’s comments align closely with the grim theme of this year’s conference, “Under Destruction.” The 2026 Munich Security Report warns that the international order is not merely shifting but is being actively dismantled. With U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in attendance—stepping in after last year’s explosive appearance by Vice President J.D. Vance—the atmosphere remains tense. Pistorius’s call for change reflects a growing European realization that reliance on the traditional transatlantic security umbrella requires a massive, self-driven overhaul.
The Defence Minister’s statement underscores Germany’s accelerating pivot toward military sovereignty. Following his recent announcements of a 10-year defense financing plan and a commitment to exceed the 2% GDP spending target, Pistorius is positioning Berlin not just as a contributor, but as a central pillar of European security independent of shifting political winds in Washington.
Objections: Militarization and Dependence Under Fire
While Pistorius advocates for a stronger defense posture, his vision faces sharp opposition both inside and outside the conference halls.
The “Vance Critique”: The shadow of J.D. Vance’s 2025 speech still looms, where he accused European governments of using “defense of democracy” as a pretext to silence internal dissent and ignore voter concerns on migration. Critics from the populist right argue that the “change” Pistorius calls for is a doubling down on unpopular policies rather than a genuine democratic course correction.
Street Protests: Outside the Hotel Bayerischer Hof, the mood is volatile. Authorities report nearly 120,000 protesters have gathered, a record number. Groups ranging from anti-war activists to Greenpeace have mobilized. Greenpeace activists specifically targeted the conference with a banner reading “Break free from tyrants,” criticizing the EU’s shift from Russian gas dependency to what they view as a dangerous over-reliance on U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG), arguing that trading one dependency for another is not true security.
Pacifist Opposition: Peace advocacy groups decry the conference as a “gathering of militarists,” arguing that the “change” needed is diplomatic engagement rather than an arms race that diverts billions from social and climate needs.
Background: The New Reality
The urgency in Pistorius’s tone is driven by the grinding reality of the war in Ukraine and the fragmentation of global alliances. Since the 2022 invasion, Germany has shattered its post-WWII pacifist taboos, becoming Ukraine’s second-largest military backer. However, with the U.S. administration pushing for Europe to shoulder the primary burden of its own defense, and with tensions rising in the Indo-Pacific, the “old world” of guaranteed American protection is effectively gone.
Pistorius’s remarks at MSC 2026 signal that the Zeitenwende (turning point) proclaimed four years ago is no longer just a policy slogan, but an operational necessity for survival in a “wrecking-ball” era.
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