# Munich Security Conference leadership and criticism

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/munich-security-conference-leadership-and-criticism
> Updated: 2026-09-15T02:53:41.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2.

The Munich Security Conference (MSC) has undergone leadership changes following reports that Jens Stoltenberg declined a top position at the organization. Subsequent announcements indicated that former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and former OSCE Secretary General Helga Schmid would serve as co-chairs for future editions of the conference.

Following these leadership developments, Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), criticized the MSC, claiming it has become a ‘fiefdom’ of NATO rather than a neutral platform for global dialogue. Dmitriev argued on X that the conference is reinforcing its position as a NATO-aligned entity instead of serving as a necessary platform for global security decisions.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-15: Russia criticizes Munich Security Conference as NATO fiefdom

Russian official Kirill Dmitriev criticized the Munich Security Conference, calling it a NATO ‘fiefdom’ following the appointment of Jens Stoltenberg and Helga Schmid as co-chairs.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/russia-criticizes-munich-security-conference-as-nato-fiefdom

### 2026-09-14: Jens Stoltenberg declines Munich Security Conference role

Former NATO leader Jens Stoltenberg has declined a leadership role at the Munich Security Conference.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/jens-stoltenberg-declines-munich-security-conference-leadership-role

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Cite as: Munich Security Conference leadership and criticism. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/munich-security-conference-leadership-and-criticism