By Asiimwe Angel
In mid-February 2025, within just a few days of each other, two significant international events took place. The United Arab Emirates hosted the World Government Summit 2025, while the city of Munich, Germany, held its annual Munich Security Conference. These gatherings offer valuable lessons and signal distinct directions for the future of interactions among nations, both now and moving forward. Which of these conferences will see its recommendations universally adopted by the participating countries? And which provides the most accurate vision of the global future?
From February 11 to 13, 2025, the World Government Summit convened under the theme “Shaping Future Governments.” This event brought together representatives from governments, international organizations, thought leaders, and private sector experts. Their aim was to foster international collaboration and develop innovative solutions to future challenges, inspiring future generations to build skills that enhance government efficiency and accountability. The Summit serves as a community built on cooperation, debating how to share and shape a better future. It seeks transformative change to improve the lives of people worldwide.
Founded in 2013 under the visionary leadership of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, the World Government Summit has grown into a respected platform, amassing a wealth of intellectual resources over the years. It addresses global governance and has become influential in shaping public policy through good governance initiatives. The Summit consistently emphasizes policy reform and explores how politics can serve the public good, benefiting the greatest number of people within any society or nation.
This year’s conference focused on how governments will function in the 21st century, highlighting three core themes: Adaptability, or how governments must evolve to meet new challenges; Sustainability, or how policies can ensure long-term ecological and economic stability; and Collaboration, or the building of bridges between nations and communities to collectively tackle global issues. Additional topics included financing the future global economy, climate change mitigation, resilient cities, a human-centric future, capacity building, global health transformations, and emerging frontiers. The conference achieved remarkable success in forging a global strategic consensus on these subjects.
Meanwhile, from February 14 to 16, 2025, the Munich Security Conference took place at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof. European attendees anticipated a sharp critique from the Trump Administration regarding their security policies. Instead, they heard a speech from U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance focusing on values. Vance emphasized democratic principles but expressed concern about “the threat from within,” citing Romania’s decision to annul its recent presidential election, the conviction of a Christian activist in Sweden, and legal rulings in the United Kingdom concerning the rights of a pro-abortion activist. “In Britain and across Europe, free speech, I fear, is in retreat,” Vance remarked. His message suggested a growing divide in shared values between America and Europe. Germany accused the Vice President of election interference, especially with its parliamentary elections just weeks away.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky observed a decoupling of Europe and the United States, stating, “Decades of the old relationship between Europe and America are ending.” Expressing his faith in Europe, he called for the creation of an Armed Forces of Europe—a proposal many view as impractical.
Analyses of the two conferences differ, yet commentators increasingly agree: the world is at a profoundly challenging juncture. One perspective advocates for unity, while another acknowledges the inevitability of divisions. The UAE’s World Government Summit projected a gravitational pull toward global cooperation, a trend I view optimistically. In Munich, however, the harsh realities of security partnerships were inescapable, underscoring that the path forward for the Western Alliance remains complex and far from straightforward.
