Boston Mayor Wu to travel to Germany for Munich Security Conference

Gayla Cawley, Boston Herald on Feb 12, 2026

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

BOSTON — Boston Mayor Michelle Wu plans to visit Germany this weekend to attend the Munich Security Conference as a panelist focused on city leadership.

Wu is the first American mayor invited to participate in the conference, which is described as a global gathering of leaders focused on international security.

“Boston is a leading global city, and it is an honor to be invited to share our progress at this important global forum,” Wu said in a statement. “Our city is known around the world as a beacon for freedom, and I look forward to connecting with leaders in government, business, education, and more to encourage greater investment in Boston and partnership for our future.”

Wu will take part in Saturday’s all-mayor panel discussion on city “leadership and diplomacy” alongside mayors from Kyiv, Ukraine, Vitali Klitschko, and Warsaw, Poland, Rafal Trzaskowski.

The panel will be moderated by Ambassador Nina Hachigian, founder and CEO of the Alliance for Local Leaders International. Wu plans to announce at the event that Boston has joined the Pact of Free Cities, which her office described as a “value-driven city network committed to rebuilding and reinforcing democracy.”

Wu also plans to meet with government officials and business leaders during her trip to Munich to “strengthen collaboration and investment in Boston,” her office said.

The mayor’s participation in the Munich Security Conference comes at a fraught time for relations between the United States and its European allies.

Wu, a critic of the Trump administration, has seen her national profile rise since her appearance last March before a Republican-led Congressional oversight committee, where she defended the city’s sanctuary policies for illegal immigrants and public safety record.

The mayor traveled to Italy in May 2024 to participate in a climate summit and Canada this past December to chop down the Boston Common Christmas tree gifted to the city each year by the Nova Scotia province.

Wu was criticized for taxpayers footing the bill for those two expensive international junkets.

This time, her office said event organizers are covering the costs for the mayor and two staff members to attend the Munich conference.

_________