“Russia’s Decline Offers an Opportunity”

Not only Ukraine, but the entire world order is in danger. Christoph Heusgen, head of the Munich Security Conference, warns of this. And he explains why Germany urgently needs to take action.

Russia is at war with Ukraine in Europe, but the entire globe is affected. Because Vladimir Putin and China’s President Xi Jinping not only ignore international law, they want a different world order. Germany and its partners must oppose this, says Christoph Heusgen, head of the Munich Security Conference and an expert on security policy. Heusgen explains in an interview how this can be achieved.

t-online: Mr. Heusgen, Russia is dismantling the world order with its war against Ukraine, and it is being supported by China. Shouldn’t Germany and its western allies rush into new alliances around the world?

Christoph Heusgen: We need new alliances fast, yes. The Russian war against Ukraine once again clearly demonstrates this. The global value system is at stake, the situation could hardly be more serious. On the other hand, I’m not sure if everyone is already aware of the urgency to act.

China’s President Xi Jinping, on the other hand, made it clear during his recent visit to Moscow that he will not let Vladimir Putin fall.

However, Russia is now clearly the junior partner, and there is no doubt that China sets the tone. Accordingly, Xi Jinping is very interested in Vladimir Putin and his regime remaining stable. On the other hand, a Russia that produces another kind of perestroika and democracy would be China’s worst nightmare. Because then Russia would free itself from the grip.

However, the conflict is not only between Russia and China on the one hand and the United States and Germany on the other.

It’s about much more, that’s right. We should not delude ourselves, this fierce conflict is also taking place at the United Nations, in Africa, Latin America and Asia.

Accordingly, the Munich Security Conference also focused on dialogue with states of the so-called Global South.

That was very important to me. The Colombian Vice President, Francia Márquez, was a guest, as was Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, Namibia’s Prime Minister. These and many other countries are equidistance to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. At the Munich Security Conference, we want to reveal these different positions and encourage in-depth discussions with one another.

In fact, warring Russia is far less isolated than Western states would like it to be.

I don’t like using the term “West”. Because the “West” is – unfortunately often rightly – accused of double standards. When we call on states to position themselves against Russia and its war against Ukraine, which violates international law, the counter-question is often: Didn’t the USA also violate international law with its invasion of Iraq in 2003? Hasn’t the United States repeatedly intervened in Central America from Grenada to Panama – in defiance of the United Nations Charter? No, it’s not about the “West” or “Western values”, it’s about defending the rules-based international order!

But how can we compete with China, which – to put it bluntly – invests billions generously around the world and doesn’t ask autocrats “annoying” questions about human rights?

Based on its history alone, Germany has an obligation to work towards the worldwide implementation of human rights, as a member of the United Nations anyway. Overall, Germany is in a very good starting position. During my time as Ambassador to the United Nations, I have experienced time and again how excellent our reputation is in many regions of the world. On the one hand, this has to do with our reliability as a partner, but also with the fact that we are the world’s second largest donor of development aid.

But now not only China does business with autocratic regimes, but also Germany. Saudi Arabia would be an example.