The 61st Munich Security Conference (MSC), scheduled from 14 to 16 February 2025, will bring together world leaders, ministers, and security experts to address global security challenges, including ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, and Africa. Among the Kurdish representatives will be Dr Younes Behram, who will speak on behalf of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), also known as Rojava. Behram is a Kurdish politician and intellectual who leads the Deutsch-Kurdisches Forum e.V. (DKF), an organisation tasked with developing the AANES’s affairs in Germany. Meanwhile, Nechirvan Barzani, President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), will attend on behalf of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
Speaking to Medya News, Bahram described the participation of the AANES as a historic diplomatic moment:
"Until now, only the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq had representation at this forum. Our participation is a significant step towards ensuring that North and East Syria is part of the global security dialogue. This is a critical opportunity to voice our concerns and push for recognition."
The AANES governs North and East Syria, a region that emerged during the Syrian civil war and is administered under a decentralised, multi-ethnic governance model based on democracy, gender equality, and local self-rule. While not officially recognised by Syria or most international actors, it has direct relations and negotiations with the current interim Syria government, and played a pivotal role in the fight against ISIS, particularly through the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which led ground operations against the group. The region continues to face threats from Turkey, with consistent attacks on AANES territory, as well as ongoing instability due to ISIS sleeper cells and the humanitarian crisis at al-Hol camp.
Dr Bahram will take part in a roundtable discussion at the European Parliament Liaison Office in Munich on 14 February, titled “Zeitenwende in Nahost: Lage und Perspektiven unter neuer US-Administration und neuer EU-Kommission” (Turning Point in the Middle East: Situation and Perspectives under the New US Administration and EU Commission). The session, co-organised by the Hanns-Seidel Foundation and the German Orient Institute, will focus on the security situation in the Middle East, particularly Syria’s political future, Iran’s growing influence, and NATO and EU strategies in the region.
Bahram said that his participation would bring Rojava’s position to the table, covering topics such as the governance system of the AANES, security challenges posed by ISIS, Turkey’s military operations, and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.
"My main focus will be on the security of North and East Syria, the structure of AANES, the role of the SDF, and the continued risks posed by ISIS. I will also highlight the efforts we have taken to stabilise the region and how our security framework impacts both the Middle East and Europe."
Nechirvan Barzani’s participation will focus on strengthening the Kurdistan Region of Iraq’s (KRI) regional and international relations while addressing security and political challenges affecting Kurdistan, Iraq, and the broader region. According to diplomatic sources, Barzani is expected to hold bilateral meetings with world leaders to discuss the KRI’s role in regional security and counterterrorism efforts.
Alongside the Kurdish delegations, world leaders will discuss other major security issues, including the war in Ukraine, conflicts in Sudan and Gaza, counterterrorism efforts, and economic security. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will lead his delegation, engaging in discussions with European and US officials on military cooperation and security guarantees.
The MSC 2025 will also feature discussions on the Israel-Palestine conflict, with a session titled “Peace in Pieces: The Future of Israeli-Palestinian Relations”, reflecting the conference’s commitment to addressing enduring global security issues.
The Munich Security Conference is currently chaired by Christoph Heusgen, who has been leading the MSC since 2022. Although there is no official announcement regarding a successor, there are rumours that the former NATO General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg may be the new president of the Conference.
Regarding US participation, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are confirmed to attend MSC 2025. Following the conference, Rubio plans to visit Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
