{"id":189955,"date":"2018-11-16T21:47:57","date_gmt":"2018-11-17T02:47:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=189955"},"modified":"2018-11-16T21:47:57","modified_gmt":"2018-11-17T02:47:57","slug":"russian-aggression-and-cyber-warfare-key-issues-for-canada-to-confront-sajjan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2018\/11\/16\/russian-aggression-and-cyber-warfare-key-issues-for-canada-to-confront-sajjan\/","title":{"rendered":"Russian aggression and cyber warfare key issues for Canada to confront: Sajjan"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cThe disruptive nature that Russia has taken, it goes against the rules-based order that we’re used to,\u201d he told a news conference at a downtown hotel. (File Photo<\/a>: Harjit Sajjan\/ Facebook<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

HALIFAX \u2014 Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan says Russia’s disruptive behaviour on the world stage is a key concern for Canada.<\/p>\n

Sajjan made the remark Friday at the opening of the Halifax International Security Forum, a three-day event that has attracted security experts and politicians from around the world.<\/p>\n

The minister cited Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its aggressive posture toward neighbouring Georgia as examples of a worrisome trend.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe disruptive nature that Russia has taken, it goes against the rules-based order that we’re used to,\u201d he told a news conference at a downtown hotel.<\/p>\n

He said the recent commemorations marking the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War serve as a poignant reminder of the fragility of democratic institutions.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s even more important now that nations act in a responsible manner; that we do not provoke,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnfortunately, because of the actions that Russia has taken, we do need to make sure we send a strong message of deterrence, and with NATO we are doing that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Canada has taken a particular interest in confronting Russia’s use of so-called hybrid warfare, which blends conventional warfare and cyber-warfare to destabilize democracies, Sajjan said.<\/p>\n

Peter Van Praagh, president of the Halifax International Security Forum, said Russia’s internal struggles have had an impact on the rest of the world.<\/p>\n

\u201cRussia is a great country historically, but Russia is also a failing country, simultaneously,\u201d Van Praagh told reporters.<\/p>\n

\u201cRussia is struggling with both of those things going on at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Saturday, a panel of experts will take part in a discussion titled: \u201cBeijing’s Cravings, Kremlin’s Gremlins: Freedom’s Foes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRussia doesn’t have the same advanced tools that Canada and NATO has,\u201d Van Praagh said. \u201cRussia is using different tools to exert influence … We can’t allow Russia or any other country to interfere in the operations of domestic democracies.\u201d<\/p>\n

The conference, which has attracted 300 delegates from 70 countries, is being held in conjunction with a meeting of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.<\/p>\n

Van Praagh also cited the end of the First World War 100 years ago, saying delegates to the conference will be keeping that key event in mind.<\/p>\n

\u201cLooking at 1918 through the prism of 100 years is a good reminder of the cost of war,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is also a reminder of our responsibility to protect our democracy. The work of democracy is never quite complete.\u201d<\/p>\n

It’s the fourth time Sajjan has attended the security conference as defence minister.<\/p>\n

He said other key issues that require delegates’ attention include the conflicts in Syria and Yemen, ongoing political changes on the Korean peninsula and Canada’s renewed role as an international peacekeeper.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor a decade, (the forum) has been the place to discuss global defence and security issues that define our times,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Among those invited to speak at the forum is U.S. Gen. Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Dunford is the highest-ranking military officer in the United States and an adviser to President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n

The delegates to the forum are almost exclusively from democratic regimes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

HALIFAX \u2014 Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan says Russia’s disruptive behaviour on the world stage is a key concern for Canada. …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":100820,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18,16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-189955","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news-ca","category-news","mauthors-michael-macdonald","mauthors-the-canadian-press"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/189955","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/44"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=189955"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/189955\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/100820"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=189955"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=189955"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=189955"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}