The far-right party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) has received an invitation to participate in the upcoming Munich Security Conference (MSC) in February 2026, marking a significant shift after being excluded from the event for the past two years. This decision has been confirmed by the MSC organizers and comes on the heels of strong criticism aimed at the exclusion by U.S. Vice President JD Vance during his impactful speech at this year's conference. In his remarks, Vance accused Germany of suppressing free speech by deliberately sidelining the AfD, a party known for its anti-immigration stance and pro-Kremlin views.
A spokesperson for the MSC refrained from elaborating on the rationale behind this policy change, simply stating that the MSC operates under a private foundation, which is not obligated to extend invitations to any specific groups. The spokesperson further mentioned that all political parties represented in the Bundestag would now be invited, particularly those with members on key committees related to foreign affairs and defense. This approach mirrors the principles previously in place before 2024.
Currently, around ten AfD members are part of the foreign affairs committee, with another nine serving on the defense committee. When asked if Vance's comments influenced this new decision, the spokesperson maintained that the MSC makes its own independent choices regarding invitations.
Vance stirred controversy by meeting with Alice Weidel, co-leader of the AfD, during the MSC while choosing to forgo a meeting with then-Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Although Weidel has claimed she hasn't yet received an invitation for the 2026 event, organizers have indicated that their guest list is still being finalized. For years, the AfD has sought to strengthen its connections with Donald Trump’s MAGA movement, further complicating their political landscape.
The MSC serves as a platform uniting heads of state, foreign and defense ministers, and high-ranking military officials from around the globe for a weekend filled with public speeches and private discussions. The previous policy that barred the AfD was implemented by Christoph Heusgen, the former MSC chair and an advisor to ex-Chancellor Angela Merkel. The conference now operates under the leadership of Jens Stoltenberg, the former NATO chief, although Wolfgang Ischinger, a long-time leader of the MSC and former German ambassador to both the U.S. and the U.K., has taken control while Stoltenberg finishes his tenure as Norway’s finance minister.
Prior to the MSC's announcement, Alexander Hoffmann, head of the Christian Social Union’s parliamentary group, which is affiliated with the Christian Democratic Union led by Friedrich Merz, cautioned against inviting the AfD. He highlighted concerns regarding several party officials’ ties to Russia and China, suggesting these connections pose a potential security risk.
Political scientist Kai Arzheimer from the University of Mainz expressed uncertainty about Ischinger’s motives. He speculated that perhaps Ischinger believes that including the AfD will help prevent further interventions from the U.S. government. Conversely, a more cynical interpretation could suggest this move is a step towards normalizing the party’s status, anticipating that they may soon play a role in government.
Johannes Hillje, a political consultant, criticized the MSC’s lack of an official explanation for this policy shift, implying it appears to capitulate to JD Vance’s demands regarding the AfD’s exclusion. He argued that the AfD’s extreme positions differentiate it from other right-wing populist parties, thus warranting a different approach from the German government.
Hillje also asserted that if AfD members were to attend the main conference, they should be restricted from participating in sensitive side events that might grant them access to confidential information, which could potentially be relayed to Russian contacts.
In contrast, Thorsten Benner, director of the Global Public Policy Institute in Berlin, noted that the MSC has routinely welcomed large delegations from China without raising similar concerns. He does not perceive any threat in including AfD MPs at the main conference. According to him, the MSC aims to maintain a strong Republican presence and believes it is more prudent not to give Vance and the AfD the opportunity to frame themselves as victims.
It is understood that the invitation extended to AfD members pertains specifically to the main conference, excluding other private formats organized by the MSC. This change in policy occurs amid intense discussions in Germany regarding how best to address the rising influence of the AfD, which garnered over 20% of the votes in the last national election, positioning itself as the leading opposition party in parliament.
Despite the so-called "firewall" that prevents mainstream parties from collaborating with the AfD, effectively blocking the far-right party from entering government at both federal and state levels, the political landscape may shift significantly due to five regional elections taking place in Germany in 2026, where the AfD is currently polling strongly.
In May, Germany’s domestic intelligence agency classified the AfD as a confirmed right-wing extremist group, although this designation remains under official review.
