2007 Munich speech of Vladimir Putin

Putin at the 43rd Security Conference in Munich in 2007. To the left of his seat in the middle aisle: Angela Merkel, Viktor Yushchenko, Franz Josef Jung, De Hoop Scheffer, Javier Solana, to the right Robert Gates, John McCain, Joe Lieberman, Jon Kyl.

Putin's speech at the 43rd Munich Security Conference in 2007 was, at the invitation of Chairman Horst Teltschik, the first speech by a Russian head of state at the Security Conference. The main topics of his speech on February 10, 2007 were the "Unipolar World Order", NATO's eastward expansion, disarmament and the Iranian nuclear program.[1] Putin's speech is seen as Russia's message to the West that it will not accept a subordinate role in world politics. Thus, the speech marked a significant change in Russian foreign policy and signaled a more assertive and independent stance on the international stage. Putin made it clear that Russia is ready to defend its interests and take a more active role in shaping the global order.[2][3]

The speech caused a sensation worldwide. Participants and the media spoke partly shocked of an incendiary speech and a new Cold War.

In retrospect, critics see Putin's statements as early signs of Russia's imperial turnaround, which led to the Ukraine war and threatens the Western order. The Russian government and supporters of the speech see it as an early and clear warning from Putin against the alleged hegemonic claim of the USA. The USA, NATO and the EU are said to have ignored this warning and subsequently provoked a military conflict in Eastern Europe instead of accepting and promoting a multipolar world order.[4][5][6][7]

  1. ^ "Vladimir Putin - Speech and Q&A on Security Policy at the 43rd Munich Security Conference 2007 (text-audio-video)". www.americanrhetoric.com. Retrieved 4 January 2025.
  2. ^ https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R43838/92
  3. ^ Renewed Great Power Competition: Implications for Defense—Issues for Congress. Congressional Research Service, R43838, p. 33
  4. ^ "Putin says U.S. Wants to dominate world". Reuters. 10 February 2007. Archived from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  5. ^ Shanker, Thom; Landler, Mark (11 February 2007). "Putin Says U.S. Is Undermining Global Stability". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 16 October 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Putin rails against US foreign policy". Financial Times. 10 February 2007. Archived from the original on 19 November 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Putin Slams US for Making World More Dangerous | DW | 10.02.2007". Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on 12 August 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2021.

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