The 61st Munich Security Conference (MSC) concluded with an emotional moment as Christoph Heusgen handed over his presidency to former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Heusgen, who had led the conference since 2022, was applauded for minutes and struggled to hold back tears during his farewell speech.

Reflecting on his tenure, Heusgen highlighted challenges in international relations and growing tensions between Europe and the US. He praised European leaders for their support and commended Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskyy for his strong response to US Vice President James David Vance’s controversial remarks. Heusgen urged continued unity and cooperation in defending democracy and shared values.