November 18, 2018 – Halifax, Nova Scotia – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces
Canada is committed to furthering our longstanding tradition of support for global stability, peace, and prosperity. Collaboration and dialogue with the international community enables Canada to address emerging security threats and ensure the safety of all Canadians at home and abroad.
Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan hosted the 10th annual edition of the Halifax International Security Forum (HISF), from November 16-18 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The Forum brought together Defence Ministers, defence and security experts, and representatives from academia and industry from over 70 countries to discuss pressing issues of global security and prosperity.
During the Forum, Minister Sajjan underlined Canada’s whole-of-government approach to peace support operations and international security challenges, as well as our commitment to multilateral cooperation with partners and allies as outlined in Canada’s defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged. Minister Sajjan also took this opportunity to reiterate the importance of international fora – like HISF – that provide a venue for frank and honest discussions about the increasingly complex defence and security challenges facing our world.
While at the Forum, Minister Sajjan met with the United States Congressional Delegation led by Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire. The delegation of six senators also included Senator John Boozman of Arkansas, Senator Debra Fischer of Nebraska, Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, Senator Michael Rounds of South Dakota, and Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi. Cindy McCain, Chair of the McCain Institute for International Leadership, also participated in the meeting.
Minister Sajjan also held bilateral meetings with NATO’s Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller, as well as the Republic of Moldova’s Minister of Defence Eugene Sturza, Turkey’s Minister of Defence of Hulusi Akar, Kosovo’s Minister of Security Forces Rrustem Berisha, Switzerland’s Minister of Defence Guy Parmelin, Lithuania’s Minister of National Defence Raimundas Karoblis, and Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Pavlo Klimkin, German delegation of Ministers of Parliament and Ambassador Sabine Sparwasser, Slovakia’s Deputy Minister Robert Ondrejcsak, Jamaica’s Chief of Defence Staff Major General Rocky Meade, and Chilean Undersecretary of Defense Cristian de la Maza Riquelme.
Minister Sajjan also met with the Inaugural Class of the Halifax Peace with Women Fellowship, an accomplished and diverse group of women from NATO and NATO-partner countries and congratulated Canadian Armed Forces member Captain (Navy) Jill Marrack, who is part of this year’s esteemed group of officers. This Fellowship aims to create a substantial network of female military leaders around the world and offers Fellows an international network of support as they move forward in their careers.
On the margins of HISF, Minister Sajjan addressed the 64th Annual Session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly taking place from November 16-19 in Halifax where he stressed the importance of multilateralism and Canada’s commitment to NATO. The NATO Parliamentary Assembly provides a unique specialized forum for members of parliament from across the Atlantic Alliance to discuss and influence decisions on Alliance security.
Quotes
“It was a pleasure to meet with defence leaders from around the world on the occasion of the 10th edition of the Halifax International Security Forum. In today’s international environment, it is important that we remain in conversation with our Allies and partners, working together at all levels to be a force for security, safety, and stability in the world. We had frank discussions and I look forward to continuing to promote Canadian values on the international stage.”
Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan
Quick facts
- The Halifax International Security Forum connected more than 300 defence leaders from across the world, including senior government and military officials, policymakers, opinion leaders, academics, and members of the business community from like-minded nations.
- Discussions at this year’s HISF included the importance of multilateral institutions like the United Nations, relations with Russia, emerging technologies and the future of international security, trade in the Indo-Pacific, and global terrorism, among many other topics.