Frieden und Sicherheit in Europa - Versuch einer Standortbestimmung

In the organizer's words:

The Second World War ended on May 8, 1945. 81 years later, the dangers of war and concerns about the expansion of hostilities into entire regions are greater than ever. In these difficult political times, in which the instruments and institutions of a rules-based order are more at risk than ever, the SÜDWIND conference aims to make a contribution to taking stock.

At the latest since Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, voices in Germany and Europe have become louder and louder criticizing the poor state of the military in Europe. Complaints were made about a lack of equipment for soldiers, a lack of weapons and non-functional war equipment. When the second Trump administration took office, the pressure on NATO member states to increase their share of military spending increased even further. Now that the Trump administration has clearly rejected responsibility for Europe's security in its latest much-discussed security strategy, questioning NATO as such and establishing a US-led Security Council instead, nervousness is growing in Europe. As a result, there are growing calls for the EU to become increasingly independent of the USA as a way out of this difficult situation when it comes to military equipment. Europe must build up its own arms industry in order not to be at the mercy of the customs fantasies etc. of a US policy that is difficult to calculate.

The SÜDWIND conference on May 8, 2026 will examine Europe's security situation, arms investments and strategies for sustainable peacekeeping.

Program

• 10:00 a.m.
  • Introduction: Dr. Ulrike Dufner, Managing Director of the SÜDWIND Institute
• 10:15 a.m.
  • Peace and security through defense investment? Assessment of the European defense strategy in geopolitically uncertain times. (Helmut Hugler, historian)
• 10:45 a.m.
  • Arms investments and sustainability: Peacewashing or contribution to peacekeeping? Armaments investments in sustainable investments. (Ulrike Lohr, SÜDWIND Institute)
• 11:15 a.m.
  • Rethinking peace - justice? Answers from the EKD peace memorandum to the current challenges of security, peace and global justice (Prof. Dr. Jörg Hübner, EKD)
• 11:45 a.m.: Break
• 12:00 p.m.
  • Panel discussion: Between the arms race and peacekeeping. An attempt at clarification. Discussion with panel and audience.
• 12:45 p.m.: Conclusion and outlook (Dr. Ulrike Dufner, Managing Director of the SÜDWIND Institute)

Registration: https://www.suedwind-institut.de/informieren/veranstaltungen/anmeldung-frieden-und-sicherheit