Munich Security Conference
14–16 February 2025
SEERIST EVENT REPORT
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Munich Security Conference 2025
The 61st Munich Security Conference will be held between 14 and 16 February. The conference creates a forum for debating international security policy and is a venue for diplomatic initiatives to address the world's most pressing security concerns.
As the annual meeting approaches, Seerist closely monitors events related to the Munich Security Conference, providing timely analysis and forecasts to inform users of the latest developments.
Source: Seerist and Control Risks
EVENT
The Pulse AI History and Trendline in Munich shows that over the past 60 days, stability has ranged between 51 and 75 points. Seerist’s seven-day Pulse forecast predicts stability to remain between a score of 68 and 73.
Seerist EventsAI shows how media reports related to the Munich Security Conference can indicate levels of fear or joy depending on the way the report has been portrayed.
PulseAI
EventsAI
EventsAI Sentiment
EventsAI Emotion
Seerist's EventsAI Emotion recorded an increase in Joy and Fear emotions on 4 February related to the Munich Security conference.
Seerist's EventsAI Sentiment recorded an upward trend in positive public sentiment from 1 January 2025 to 5 February 2025 for events related to the Munich Security Conference as media reports indicate that Donald Trump's strategy for ending the war in Ukraine will be discussed at the conference.
Fear
Joy
OVERVIEW
Germany Security Landscape
The likelihood of state or non-state actors engaging in actions that will harm personnel or assets is low. Crime levels sit around the EU average, with hotspots in northern states and in urban areas. The likelihood of a terrorist attack has increased in recent years with greater activity from far-right and Islamist extremist groups.
Protest action occurs occasionally but is unlikely to result in anything beyond temporary disruption to personnel movement and supply routes through increased congestion or temporary road closures. Direct action – particularly by environmental activists – holds the potential to cause disruption. Security and intelligence services are very effective in combatting crime and terrorism, and in containing protest activity.
There is a low but credible likelihood of personnel perceived as being of non-European descent being targeted in hate crimes, involving either verbal or occasionally physical assault. Such crimes are more likely in more deprived areas of the country, particularly in the former east.
Source: Seerist and Control Risks
The heatmap of Verified Events, corroborated by a team of subject matter experts that identify, verify, and monitor events 24/7, shows all verified crime, unrest, and terrorism events in Germany between 1 January 2024 and 4 February 2025.
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Main sectors impacted by verified unrest
Germany, 1 Jan 2024 – 4 Feb 2025
Munich, Germany
IN FOCUS
Seerist’s city profiles provide detailed information about Munich, Germany, including personal safety recommendations.
Venues 1. Hotel Bayerischer Hof
2. Rosewood Munich
Source: Seerist and Control Risks
Map of Munich City Center and the Munich Security Conference Venues
Munich is the state capital of Bavaria, in the south of Germany. It lies about 30 miles (50 km) north of the edge of the Alps and along the Isar river. With more than 1.5m inhabitants, it is the third-largest municipality in Germany, and serves as the centre of its metropolitan region, with around 6.2m inhabitants.
Theft and pickpocketing are common in busy commercial and tourist areas, and especially near the major train stations, shopping centers (malls) and entertainment areas, including the Theresienwiese, where the Oktoberfest beer festival takes place.
Crime
Civil Unrest
Terrorism
Demonstrations over environmental and socioeconomic issues, and government policies, as well as strikes by labor unions frequently take place, particularly at the Marienplatz main square and Odeonsplatz. Most protests are scheduled in advance and peaceful. However, they can lead to clashes between security forces and protesters, with threats of incidental violence to passers-by. Protests and strike action also cause traffic disruption through road closures and cancellations to public transport.
Munich is a credible target for indiscriminate extremist attacks, including in places frequented by foreign nationals such as bars, restaurants, places of worship and government buildings. In July 2016, a perpetrator shot dead nine people in a shopping mall. Police confirmed that the perpetrator was motivated by far-right ideology. However, Bavaria has a robust and efficient police force capable of responding quickly and effectively to security incidents.
KEY ISSUES
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TRAVEL INSIGHTS
Personal Safety Recommendations
Avoid leaving valuables unattended and carry essential documentation and equipment on your person.
Remain situationally aware of your luggage and belongings, especially in popular tourist & crowded areas.
Protests may cause bystanders to face incident risks in the event of any disturbance or unrest.
Avoid large gatherings as a precautionary measure.
Although all major credit cards are accepted in hotels and larger shops, it is advisable to carry a small amount of Euros as some local traders do not accept card payments.
Unrest:
3 Events
February 2024
Unrest:
9 Events
May 2024
Unrest:
4 Events
Crime:
1 Event
January 2025
Verified Security Event Trends
Verified unrest events accounted for most security events recorded on Seerist which took place in Munich. Seerist also verified a protest on 17 February 2024 where around 4,000 people protested near the Munich Security Conference venue over several topics including a ceasefire in Gaza and more support for Ukraine. Unrest events predominantly took place in the form of protests, followed by blockades and clashes between protestors and security forces. Meanwhile, local community groups accounted for the largest portion of perpetrators in unrest events, followed by environmentalists and labor/ trade unions.
MUNICH
Verified Security Event Trends Across Three Categories (2024-2025)
Venues 1. Hotel Bayerischer Hof 2. Rosewood Munich
Recent Verified Events in Central Munich
Rely on Verified Events, which are authenticated by a team of subject matter experts that identify, verify, and monitor events 24/7, to provide consistent coverage of potentially disruptive events as they happen.
Click an event on the map to learn more.
Source: Seerist and Control Risks
Source: Seerist and Control Risks
Monitor Security Developments in Munich using EventsAI
EventsAl searches can be tailored using custom keywords to find information specifically related to unrest, sourced from reliable local and international sources. This allows users to monitor both traditional news coverage of security developments and planned unrest events published by activists on social media.
7 Examples of Search Results
Source: Seerist
Future Events to Monitor in Munich
Future Events cover one-off or recurring events that could cause operational disruption, heightened security threats or result in significant political decisions. Found on the dedicated country page, all calendar events are given a rating for their potential severity, in addition to assessing impact types such as ‘unrest’ and ‘transportation’.
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REPORT
Control Risks Analysis
Planned protests against Munich Security Conference likely to be peaceful, but potentially disruptive
Conference The The annual event brings together heads of state, government officials, military leaders, academics, and industry experts to discuss global security issues. MSC will take place at two hotels in Munich, the Bayerischer Hof and the Rosewood Munich. Police plan to create a security perimeter around the venues, and have warned of disruptions to local public transport. Over 60 heads of state and government are set to attend, with the MSC announcing that US Vice-President JD Vance, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen would attend, alongside other high-level political leaders.
MSC is a key international event for European security and defence. The relationship between European governments and the US will play a central role, with the event highlighting rising tensions. These include over US President Donald Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on European imports, disagreements over NATO defence spending targets, US claims over Greenland, and uncertainty over how to end the war in Ukraine. The resolution of the latter, the implementation of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, and the build-up of Europe’s defence capabilities will define conversations. “Global Order” is another key agenda item, with the MSC once again highlighting that the global order is in flux, away from Western hegemony and a rules-based international system. “Human Security”, “Sustainability” and “Technology” are the other three main agenda items that will also feature a plethora of smaller, business-relevant side events, such as those organised by the MSC Food Security Task Force.
Several activist groups have announced plans to hold protests targeting the Munich Security Conference (MSC), which will take place in the city (Bavaria state) between 14-16 February.
Transatlantic relations, defence spending in Europe, the war in Ukraine and the ceasefire deal between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas will be key discussion items.
Protests will take place in central Munich, including near the venue. Civil unrest is unlikely, but protests are likely to temporarily disrupt transport in the city.
Activists are likely to attempt to enter the event covertly and stage attention-grabbing protests to draw media interest, a form of disruption well established within activist groups.
Businesses and their personnel are unlikely to be targeted in the context of the event. The threat from violent attacks is mitigated by a security zone around the venue and security authorities’ heightened presence throughout the city.
Protest action Anti-globalization, anti-NATO and left-wing activist groups on 4 February announced plans to protest at the event. Trump on 4 February proposed that the US assume long-term control of the Gaza Strip (Palestinian Territories), including relocating the Palestinian population to neighboring countries such as Egypt and Jordan. The announcement, as well as Vance’s presence, is likely to prompt an increase of participation from pro-Palestine groups.
“Aktionsbündnis gegen die NATO-Sicherheitskonferenz 2025” (Action Alliance Against the NATO Security Conference 2025) announced protests on 13 February. The group voices anti-war and anti-NATO positions, and has a pro-Palestinian stance. As in previous years, it plans to obstruct the conference with a human chain, which will likely be prevented by police (also as in previous years). “Macht Frieden!”, which holds pro-Russian views, and pro-Ukrainian group Fellas for Europe e.V. also announced protests in Munich on 15 February.
The protests are likely to remain peaceful and civil unrest is unlikely. While attendance is likely to be in the thousands, causing temporary disruption to transport, they are unlikely to significantly disrupt the event itself.
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PulseAI
The Pulse AI History and Trendline in Munich shows that over the past 60 days, stability has ranged between 51 and 75 points. Seerist’s seven-day Pulse forecast predicts stability to remain between a score of 68 and 73.
EventsAI
Seerist EventsAI shows how media reports related to the Munich Security Conference can indicate levels of fear or joy depending on the way the report has been portrayed.
EventsAI Sentiment
Seerist's EventsAI Sentiment recorded an upward trend in positive public sentiment from 1 January 2025 to 5 February 2025 for events related to the Munich Security Conference as media reports indicate that Donald Trump's strategy for ending the war in Ukraine will be discussed at the conference.
Request a demo
Request a demo to see how Seerist can support your security and intelligence efforts.
Explore Seerist Today