Seventh Annual Halifax International Security Forum
Backgrounder
November 20, 2015
The seventh annual Halifax International Security Forum is being held in the Nova Scotia capital from November 20 to 22, 2015.
The largest event of its kind in North America, the Forum enables frank and informal discussions among participants on key topics in international security. The event, which began in 2009, established itself as a premier gathering place to discuss global security issues.
This year’s topics include the security situation in Eastern and Central Europe, the ongoing instability in the Middle East, terrorism, the migrant crisis, and climate change, among many others.
The Forum brings together leading thinkers, policymakers, and practitioners from nations around the world to discuss ideas and share insights on important global security challenges. More than 300 participants are expected, including prominent domestic and international figures from government, military, academia, media, and the private sector.
Canada will be represented by Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan; Veterans Affairs Minister and Associate Minister of Defence, Kent Hehr and other senior officials.
Some of this year’s prominent international participants include: Minister of Defence from Albania, Mimi Kodheli; Minister of Defense from Colombia, Luis Carlo Villegas Echverri; Minister of Defense from Georgia, Tinatin Khidasheli; Minister of the Ministry for the Kosovo Security Force, Haki Demolli; Minister of Defence from Lithuania, Juozas Olekas; Minister of Defence from Macedonia, Zoran Jolevski; Minister of Defense from Montenegro, Milica Pejanovic-Djuris,; Minister of Defense from the Netherlands, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert; as well as U.S. Senators John Barrasso and Tim Kaine.
This unique gathering brings the world to Halifax, and also contributes to advancing Canada’s international and defence diplomacy objectives, notably by allowing the Minister of National Defence, as well as other senior Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces officials to host bilateral meetings with key counterparts on the margins of the conference.
Moreover, it provides an opportunity for the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces to reaffirm Canada’s defence relationships and priorities and showcase Canada’s military engagements and global leadership. On full display will be the Canadian Armed Forces’ contribution to security and defence at home, in the Western Hemisphere and around the world.
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For more information the Halifax International Security Forum, please visit the Forum’s website.
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