Global Health as a Strategic Imperative – Health in the context of security and peace

Global health is no longer just a humanitarian concern – it has become a key issue of security policy. At the World Health Summit 2025, a discussion event co-organized by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung addressed the complex interconnections between health, security, and peace in the 21st century. The current Monitor features two of the speeches.

National security today goes far beyond military strength. Societies are vulnerable if they are inadequately prepared for health crises. Organizations such as the WHO, the United Nations, and NATO recognize health as a central pillar of security. A robust health system strengthens resilience, prevents crises, stabilizes economies, and fosters trust in governance.

Five key risks are in focus:

• Pandemics and infectious diseases
• Antimicrobial resistance, which threatens the foundations of modern medicine
• Bioterrorism and dual-use biotechnology as new security policy challenges
• The health impacts of climate change
• The importance of mental health and social cohesion for the resilience of democratic societies

The speeches emphasize that investments in health are not charity, but a strategic necessity. International cooperation, early warning systems, regulation of biotechnology, and the fight against misinformation are central recommendations for action. Health diplomacy is evolving from ‘soft power’ to ‘strategic power’ –becoming a decisive instrument of international politics.

Health security must be seen as an integral part of national defense, global surveillance systems should be strengthened, and investments should be targeted at societal resilience. Only in this way, in a world where viruses cross borders faster than diplomacy, can sustainable security and peace be ensured.

Read the entire Monitor: ‘Global Health as a Strategic Imperative’ here as a PDF.