Halifax International Security Forum The Halifax International Security Forum is HFX's flagship annual event, held at
The Westin Nova Scotian in
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The meeting brings together 300 delegates and has been referred to by Canadian media as "The
Davos of international security". This summit is the only event of its kind in North America. The 16th Halifax Forum was held from 22 to 24 November 2024.
Format The annual forum starts Friday afternoon with an introduction and a first plenary. Friday evening features a gala dinner followed by off-the-record "night-owl-sessions". After the plenaries on Saturday, there are more than 20 dinner discussions on a variety of topics. Sunday morning starts with a 5K run followed by off-the-record breakfast sessions. The forum ends after the plenaries and closing remarks with a press conference Sunday afternoon.
Annual Themes 2024 forum The 2024 Halifax International Security Forum from 22 to 24 November 2024 and was attended by 300 delegates from 60 countries. Occurring shortly after the United States presidential election, the meeting provided an early opportunity for international policymakers and defense officials to discuss possible implications of the new U.S. administration. In the run-up, organizers released two contrasting agendas to underscore potential global trajectories following the U.S. election. Discussions focused on geopolitical uncertainty, transatlantic defense commitments, and the role of emerging technologies, such as
artificial intelligence (AI) in warfare. Participants addressed ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, security challenges associated with China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, and the growing strategic importance of the Arctic. Canadian Minister of National Defense,
Bill Blair, highlighted challenges posed by Russia and China, the need to protect the Arctic, and support for democratic partners including
Ukraine and
Taiwan. while noting European measures since 2016 to raise defence spending and reduce energy dependence on Russia, U.S. legislators pointed to institutional resilience amid prospective shifts in priorities. strategic considerations in the Indo-Pacific, cyber defense, climate-related security risks, the Arctic’s growing strategic significance, and the regulation of AI in military contexts. Findings from the “HISF-Ipsos Threat Index” survey identified disinformation and cyberattacks as leading global concerns. The 2024 John McCain Prize for Leadership in Public Service was awarded to Russian opposition figure and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist
Vladimir Kara-Murza for his advocacy of democratic principles. Former Taiwanese President,
Tsai Ing-wen, the 2020 recipient, was formally presented her award, after being unable to attend in 2020 due to the
COVID-19 pandemic. The 2024 Halifax Builder Award was conferred on U.S. Senators Jim Risch and
Jeanne Shaheen. Youth participation included the 15@15: Youth Building Democracy program, which brought six international winners from Ukraine, Taiwan, the United States, India, and Jamaica, to attend the forum and take part in discussions on global security and democratic values.
2023 forum The 2023 Halifax International Security Forum was held from 17 to 19 of November 2023. The event was attended by 600 delegates from more than 60 countries. There were high-profile guests such as
Canadian National Defence Minister Bill Blair and former
Israel prime minister Ehud Barak. The
Russian invasion of Ukraine,
climate change and the
Gaza war were the main topics. A key topic of the forum was "Victory in Ukraine", which presented Ukraine’s defense as essential to maintaining the international rules-based order. The acronym
CRINK (
China,
Russia,
Iran,
North Korea), coined by forum president Peter Van Praag, appeared in the titles of several discussions, including such as 'Never Mind the
BRICS, Here’s the CRINKs'. The forum also addressed the link between the war in Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza. Van Praagh stated that, "Victory in Ukraine equals victory for Israel." Demonstrations outside the venue called for a ceasefire in Gaza. Canada’s Minister of National Defense,
Bill Blair, reaffirmed Canada’s "unequivocal support" for Ukraine, and emphasized that "all civilians must be protected, and the laws of armed conflict must be respected" in Gaza. U.S. Senators
Jeanne Shaheen and
James Risch reiterated support for both Ukraine and Israel. In a message to the forum, Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska warned, "If Ukraine falls, the war will not stop; it will escalate globally." British Member of Parliament,
Alicia Kearns, stated that democratic states were inadequately prepared for multiple simultaneous global crises, citing a "glaring awareness" of existing international capacity shortfalls. which included rebuilding critical infrastructure and providing support refugees and veterans. The award was accepted by Brothers and Sisters in Arms, an Israeli reservist organization advocating for judicial independence. Mike Savage, then Mayor of Halifax, received the 2023 Halifax Builder Award.
2022 forum The 2022 Halifax International Security Forum was held from 18 to 20 of November 2022.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke with the topic 'Why
Ukraine Matters'.
2021 forum The 2021 Halifax International Security Forum was held from 19 to 21 of November 2021. It was feature the following on-the-record plenary panels: • After the Fall-- • The Next 9/11: From Kabul or From California (or some lab we haven't heard of yet)? • W.W.J.M.D? (What Would John McCain Want Us To Do?) • #StandTogetherOnChina • Post-Pandemic: Heed Expectations, Heal Globalization • Fires and Landslides and Droughts: Oh My! • China's Quantum Leap Backward • --Keep the Faith
2020 forum The 2020 Halifax International Security Forum was held from 20 to 22 November 2020.
2019 forum The 2019 Halifax International Security Forum was held from 22 to 24 November 2019.
2018 forum The 2018 Halifax International Security Forum was held from 16 to 18 November 2018.
2017 forum The 2017 Halifax International Security Forum was attended by delegates from more than 80 countries. The forum celebrated 150 years of
Canadian Confederation and the 100th anniversary of the
Halifax Explosion. Along with
Dalhousie University and
Saint Mary's University, the forum hosted a public event on the future of global leadership with
Tawakkol Karman, Bessma Momani, General
Petr Pavel, and
Jonathan Tepperman. The event was held prior to the official conference launch and was moderated by
Tom Clark, former
Global News host. The forum was opened by
Harjit Sajjan,
Canadian Minister of National Defence, who gave the opening speech, followed by remarks from Michèle Coninsx, Assistant Secretary General of the
United Nations, and
Scott Brison, president of the
Treasury Board of
Canada. The opening was followed by the first out of a total of three Halifax Chats that were scheduled throughout the forum. The first Halifax Chat with Minister Sajjan and
Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg was moderated by Robin Shepherd and centered on Canada's role in
European
peacekeeping missions, the need for increased incorporation of women into the military, and the importance of ongoing American leadership in
NATO. During a gala dinner at
Pier 21, the 2017 Halifax Builder Award was presented to NATO The 2017 Forum also marked the announcement of the annual "John McCain Prize for Courage in Public Service", which will be awarded for the first time at the 2018 Forum. Against the backdrop of an incident during a NATO military exercise in
Norway, General
Hulusi Akar, commander of the
Turkish Armed Forces, stressed
Ankara's commitment to NATO: "Turkey's alliance with NATO should not be undermined, and NATO is the most successful and most effective military organization that has existed throughout history." A key topic at the forum was
nuclear deterrence and diplomacy. In the second panel discussion entitled "Nukes: The Fire and the Fury"
Steven Clemons,
editor-at-large of
The Atlantic, moderated the conversation between General
John E. Hyten, commander of
US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM),
Bonnie Jenkins, the US State Department's Coordinator for Threat Reduction Programs, Sung-han Kim, dean and professor of
international relations at the Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS), and
Moshe Ya'alon, former
Israeli Minister of Defence. The conversation centered around the future of
North Korea,
Iranian nuclear capabilities and the role and politics of the United States in global nuclear deterrence. Hyten, in light of recent escalations of nuclear rhetoric, said: "The way the process works is this simple: I provide advice to the President. He'll tell me what to do and if it's illegal, guess what's going to happen? I'm going to say, Mr. President, it's illegal." The statement was quickly picked up by national and international media. In a panel discussion entitled "Weaponizing Capital: One Belt, One Road, One Way", the panelists General Bryan Fenton, deputy commander of
US Pacific Command (USPACOM),
Edward Luce, Washington columnist and commentator for the
Financial Times,
Ong Keng Yong, chairman of the
S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at the
Nanyang Technological University in
Singapore, and
US Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer discussed
China's aim to take a larger role in world affairs and global trade through their
One Belt One Road Initiative and examined what military and economic impact the initiative will have as
Beijing expands its influence. between Fauizya Ali, founder and president of Women In International Security (WIIS) in
Kenya, Pastor
Esther Ibanga, Jos Christian Missions International in
Nigeria, human rights activist Tawakkol Karman from
Yemen, who was awarded the
2011 Nobel Peace Prize, Nancy Lindborg, president of the
United States Institute of Peace, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the first woman in US history to be elected both a
Governor and a
United States Senator, and General
Jonathan Vance,
Chief of the Defence Staff of the Canadian Armed Forces. The talk was moderated by
Nahlah Ayed from
CBC News. The panelists discussed how women play vital roles in creating lasting peace from conflict, and the future of peacebuilding and where progress can be made for women throughout the world. During the second Halifax Chat,
Abdullah Abdullah, chief executive of the Islamic Republic of
Afghanistan, spoke with Robin Shepherd about the current state of Afghanistan and what the future holds, including continued improvements in the economy, security, and human rights. "Open war is what we see in the
Ukraine, and it breaks all rules of a civilized world," said
Poland's
Minister of National Defence,
Antoni Macierewicz, in a panel titled "Rapprochement with
Russia: Post-Putin Prep". The panel examined
Putin's interferences in global affairs, including
cyberwarfare and militaristic intervention in neighboring states, and cooperative solutions for addressing the threats Russia possesses to its neighbors and the world. Other panelists were
Pavlo Klimkin,
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine,
Vladimir Milov, founder and president of the Institute of Energy Policy, and Senator Jeanne Shaheen. Julie Perkins, chief engineer of In-
space vehicle propulsion systems for
Boeing, and Rajeswari Rajagopalan, senior fellow and head of the nuclear and space policy initiative at the
Observer Research Foundation (ORF). The second day of the forum concluded with the third Halifax Chat featuring
Eric Schmidt on the future of the digital world. Schmidt, executive chairman of
Alphabet Inc., talked about Alphabet's efforts to curb the spread of false information on the internet, the increasing importance of artificial intelligence in global affairs, and future technological capabilities to address military needs. A wide range of topics—from Afghanistan politics and the evolution of terrorism to the
geopolitics of energy—were discussed during off-the-record dinner and late-night sessions. The 2017 Forum was closed by two Sunday morning panels. The first panel, titled "Rebuilding the Middle East: From Civil War to Civil Society", was moderated by
Abderrahim Foukara, D.C. bureau chief of
Al Jazeera. "We are at risk of another civil war if the international community does not get
Iraq engaged", said
Falah Mustafa Bakir, head of the
Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) Department of Foreign Relations (DFR), commenting the panel's discussion on Western interventions in the
Middle East in recent years and the ongoing attempts to build democratic institutions in the region. Along with specific interventions and requirements like education, investments, and planning, the two panel participants also discussed global trends.
Tzipi Livni,
Israel's former Foreign Minister, commented: "All over the world we see the erosion of democracy. We need to be united to address this." The panelists of the final panel were
Carl Bildt, former
Prime Minister of Sweden, Masashi Nishihara, president of the Research Institute for Peace and Security, Mayor Dale Ross, City of
Georgetown, Texas, and
Nicolas Tenzer, editor and director of
Le Banquet as well as the founding president of the Center for the Study and Reflection of Political Action. The panel "Climate Change: Houston, We Have a Solution" addressed the importance of moving beyond the
politics of climate change to find practical solutions. The participants discussed the technological advances necessary for these solutions. The panel was moderated by Tom Clark.
2016 forum The 2016 Halifax International Security Forum was the first major international gathering after the
US presidential election ten days earlier. It was attended by delegates from 70 countries. The forum started with a ministerial meeting on
peacekeeping hosted by
Canada's Department of National Defence and
Canadian Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan with
Hervé Ladsous,
UN Under-Secretary-General for
Peacekeeping Operations, and
Atul Khare, Head of the
Department of Field Support. The Canadian Minister of National Defence, Harjit Sajjan, held the forum's opening speech. A key topic at the forum was
democracy. In a panel discussion entitled "Make Democracy Great Again" the
UK Secretary of State for Defence, Sir
Michael Fallon, the professor of
political science from the
Hebrew University of Jerusalem,
Shlomo Avineri and the
Turkish Minister for
EU Affairs,
Ömer Çelik discussed the western democratic model in the panel which was moderated by
Jonathan Tepperman, managing editor of
Foreign Affairs magazine. Fallon, against the backdrop of
Brexit, said: "Although Britain is leaving the European Union we still have a role to pay in defending our European continent... and to continue to make democracy great again." Referring to the United States presidential election, he added: "...He (
Donald Trump) knows from his election that we cannot take democracy for granted... This is no time for any of us to turn inwards". "The West Block", the forum's opening panel discussion on democracy, peace and conflict, was hosted by
Tom Clark of
Global News. Clark interviewed Minister Harjit Sajjan, General
Jonathan Vance and
Paula Dobriansky. In light of statements made by Trump during the campaign suggesting a review of
NATO, Dobriansky told the audience: "There's a lack of importance attached to not only the values but the alliances and also the institutions that preserved peace, stability and security post-
World War II, no less the
Cold War". A key topic under discussion during the conference was a statement made by Trump in previous debates about him favoring a torture method called
waterboarding. Gideon Rose, editor of the magazine
Foreign Affairs, commented on the discussed topic. "Let me say how appalling and heartbreaking it is that we have to have a discussion about the possibility ... about whether the United States policy really will be not to engage in war crimes," he said. In this regard US Senator
John McCain in a chat with US Senator
John Barrasso emphasized that US congress had already banned the torture method. He went on to add: "I don't give a damn what the president of United States wants to do or anybody else wants to do, we will not waterboard. We will not torture people … It doesn't work." Other panel discussions sought to address the
war in Syria and growing global terrorism,
climate change as both an environmental and economic threat, and the intersection of
cyber security and national security and the shared responsibility between the government and private sector to develop policies that protect from existing and new cyber threats.
Virginia Democratic Senator
Tim Kaine, who served as 2016
Vice-Presidential Candidate, received the 2016 Halifax Builder Award.
2015 forum The 2015 Halifax International Security Forum took place against the backdrop of the
ISIS terror attacks in Paris and was attended by 300 delegates from 60 countries. The terror attack was the main topic of the forum discussions.
Harjit Sajjan,
Canadian Minister of National Defence, gave the opening keynote. In his speech, Sajjan also addressed the situation of
Syrian refugees and defended the government's plan to resettle 25,000 refugees in Canada. The minister described democratic societies welcoming Syrian refugees as a major strike against the ideology of Islamic terrorists. This sent a "great message to
ISIS", Sajjan told the audience. The forum's opening session addressed the new objectives in Canada's foreign policy. During the US/Canadian panel discussion Sajjan supported targeting ISIS in
Syria and
Iraq with air strikes in preparation for a ground assault. as a preparation for ground troops. But the
Afghanistan War veteran also warned about the "second and third effects" of indiscriminate bombings, a point with which all panelists agreed.
William E. Gortney, commander of
US Northern Command, told the audience that "
carpet bombing" was not the answer to terrorism.
Jonathan Vance,
Chief of the Defence Staff of the
Canadian Armed Forces, said that "You can't carpet bomb your way to victory". Panelist
John R. Allen, former Special Presidential Envoy for
Defeating ISIS, who attended the panel and later had an additional appearance at the
Halifax Chat, emphasized the necessity to fight ISIS also financially and in the sphere of
information warfare. Allen told the audience that for the US a massive ground operation was not on the agenda. He instead favored operations by combined special forces. Speaking at a panel on global security threats, General
Petr Pavel,
chairman of the NATO Military Committee, stressed the need for "a much broader approach" to fight ISIS and called for a greater involvement of
NATO He criticized Chinese efforts to develop man-made islands within disputed territories and called them a "Great Wall of Sand" and "Sandcastles in the Sea". Harris described China as a country which had abandoned
Deng Xiaoping's philosophy of patience. "In fact, China has transitioned from a patient nation to a nation in a hurry", Harris told the audience. The Admiral expressed his belief that a conflict with China was not inevitable but emphasized the need to develop the bilateral relationship with a long-term perspective. The admiral warned
China that it also could be the target of cyber-intrusions and described the country as being "as vulnerable as any other major industrialized nation state". Rogers expressed his hope that China would refrain from future cyber-attacks against the US.
2014 forum The
Russo-Ukrainian war was a key issue at the 2014 Halifax International Security Forum. Canadian Minister of National Defence Rob Nicholson, who also held the forum's opening speech, in a panel discussion called on
Russia to get out of
Ukraine describing the situation there as "completely unacceptable". He emphasized the Canadian commitment to oppose the conflict and accused Russian President
Vladimir Putin of ignorance. "It's certainly my hope and the hope of everyone that he does get the message", Nicholson declared. "We are not going to let up on this… Whether it takes five years or 50, the people of Ukraine deserve the freedom that they deserve, that they fought for", the minister promised. Nicholson's cabinet colleague, Justice Minister Peter MacKay, called it "telling" that none of the delegates from Russia were representing their government. In view of the Russo-Ukrainian war Estonian President
Toomas Hendrik Ilves opposed Russian propaganda and warned that "many things that Europe often takes for granted are under threat today". Ilves also described the conflict's negative consequences for global
nuclear disarmament as Ukraine in 1994 gave up its nuclear weapons in exchange of international security promises and "when it comes to guaranteeing their territorial integrity, nothing is done". Minister Nicholson stated that Canada was willing to enter a more integrated common defense strategy with the US. This would not affect Canadian sovereignty, Nicholson emphasized. From the US, nine members of Congress attended the forum. This largest congressional delegation ever to visit Canada was led by the Senators John McCain and Tim Kaine. At a forum panel examining America's role as a "indispensable superpower" McCain and Kaine confirmed their optimism about the future of the US. Both senators agreed that US President Barack Obama should have sought congressional authorization to conduct operations against
ISIL. "You can't ask people to risk their lives, risk getting killed, seeing other folks getting killed or injured if Congress isn't willing to do the job to put their thumbprint on this and say, this is a national mission and worth it", Kaine said during the panel. "I totally agree with Tim, and I do think it's very important for the president to come over with the authorization that he wants", McCain added. Senator McCain, against the backdrop of the failing negotiations on the
Iranian nuclear program in
Vienna and its repeated extension, criticized the US diplomacy and drew parallels to
North Korea. McCain told the audience that North Korea was in command of nuclear weapons and delivery systems and called this a "wake up call". The senator's statement was confirmed by General
Charles H. Jacoby, outgoing commander of
NORAD and
US Northern Command, who referred to North Korea as a "practical threat" due to its nuclear and ballistic capabilities. at HISF
Abdullah Gül, the former
Turkish president, at the forum spoke about the persistent instability in the
Middle East. "The key term to express the gravity of the situation in the region at present can be 'frustration'", Gül told the audience. He also responded to concerns related to interior developments in Turkey. It was Gül's first public appearance since departing the presidency. On Saturday afternoon, the forum's president, Peter Van Praagh, issued a statement that the ISIL terror group was sending messages to the forum's staff and participants and also using #HISF2014, the forum's
hashtag, to spread a propaganda video. The ISIL terror in the Middle East was debated in several Forum panels. Further topics of the 2014 Forum were
African security issues and the situation of
Hong Kong.
2013 forum at HISF 2013 Global
climate change and its
impact on the
Arctic were key issues at the 2013 Halifax International Security Forum. In his keynote address, US Defense Secretary
Chuck Hagel illustrated the rapid shift of the polar landscape and its consequences for international security. Hagel then announced the Pentagon's
new Arctic strategy, which for the first time outlined how the US responds to the repercussions of climate change for the Arctic. As the shrinking of Arctic ice opens up new
waterways and potential energy resources, countries' increased interest in the region could potentially lead to rising international tensions, the Defense Secretary warned. Hagel called for more international cooperation in the Arctic to protect its environment and to keep it "peaceful, stable and free of conflict". Nicholson described the Arctic as a "low-tension area" and emphasized Canada's efforts to foster more international cooperation in the region. Just prior to the launch of the 2013 Halifax Forum, Hagel and Nicholson signed the
US-Canada Asia-Pacific Framework to increase their security cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. at HISF 2013 Regarding the forthcoming withdrawal of the last
Canadian forces from
Afghanistan in March 2014, Minister Nicholson declared that "Canada has made a difference in Afghanistan". The minister also expressed his concerns about Afghan President
Hamid Karzai's refusal to sign the
Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) with the US. Secretary Hagel emphasized the necessity of a signed and ratified BSA as a precondition for a US military presence in Afghanistan beyond 2014. The 2013 Forum's Saturday night reception was interrupted by breaking news of the
Geneva interim agreement on Iranian nuclear program and the broadcasting of
US President Barack Obama's White House statement. The agreement was also the focus of a Halifax Forum meeting between Secretary Hagel and his
Israeli counterpart Moshe Ya'alon. During a panel discussion on the responsibility of Western nations to engage globally on political and humanitarian grounds,
Liam Fox, former British
Secretary of State for Defence, called for a "re-emphasizing" of
NATO's political mission instead of staying focused only on the military side. He recalled that the
Cold War was won by the Western allies. "And it was won—not just because we had military superiority or economic superiority—(but because) we had political and moral superiority and we were willing to say, not that we were different, but that we were better. That freedom would be better than oppression. Capitalism would be better than state control", Fox declared. In view of declining international engagement due to economic pressures, he called it an "absurdity" that NATO states were spending more of their
GDP on debt interest repayments than on defense.
Alexander Vershbow, NATO's Deputy Secretary General, stressed the alliance's role as a force for global peace. In order to solve international issues, NATO needs to cooperate with other international organizations, Vershbow declared, also urging more assistance to the
Syrian opposition. US Senator
John McCain emphasized the importance of establishing humanitarian zones in war-torn countries such as Syria. Speaking about international military interventions,
Canadian Minister of Justice and Attorney General Peter MacKay described a kind of fatigue currently present in democratic societies, due to the losses in recent years. As for Canada, MacKay declared the country's willingness to maintain its high international presence moving forward. This conflict and the civil war in Syria were major topics of Forum debates. Canadian Defence Minister
Peter MacKay stated that
Israel had the right to defend itself against
Hamas, but urged restraint in the conflict. US Senators
John McCain and
Mark Udall called for a no-fly zone in Syria. McCain dismissed any talk of a potential US ground intervention given the lack of popular support for such s step by the American people. "Americans are war-weary", the Senator declared. At a panel on technology and modern warfare,
Vic Toews,
Canadian Minister of Public Safety, declared that Canada was "as prepared as anyone else" to defend itself against cyberattacks. During the same panel, Minister MacKay announced plans to procure
drones for the surveillance of Canada's Arctic territories. at the Halifax Forum 2011. Panetta described the US as confronting "the fiscal realities of limited resources" and outlined the future of the
US military "that, while smaller, is agile, flexible, deployable and technologically equipped to confront the threats of the future". Secretary Panetta also urged other countries to share in the burden of maintaining global security. In spite of budget pressures Panetta expressed his confidence in the funding of the multinational
Joint Strike Fighter (F-35) program. Together with his US counterpart, Peter MacKay, Canadian Minister of National Defense, confirmed Ottawa's plan to buy 65 F-35 aircraft. Regarding the situation in
Syria and Iran, two key issues for the forum, MacKay declared, that the
NATO mission in Libya was no blueprint for similar interventions. "There's a danger in creating a scenario that says there is 'world police' that are going to start singling out countries and enforcing what those governments—legitimate or not—should be doing", MacKay told the forum's participants. Any international actions in Syria would need a
UN Security Council resolution similar to the
one on Libya, the Canadian defence minister added. He also expressed his hope that
Russia and
China would agree on
economic sanctions towards Syria. Speaking in Halifax, Senator John McCain expressed his conviction that the "Arab Spring is a virus that will attack
Moscow and
Beijing".
2010 forum At the 2010 Halifax International Security Forum the US Senators John McCain and
Lindsey Graham asked for Canadian troops staying in Afghanistan after 2011, the date of withdrawal, changing from a combat to a training role.
Canadian Minister of National Defence,
Peter MacKay, declared at the forum, that Canada was considering staying in Afghanistan with a training mission. At a forum panel on the
Iranian nuclear conflict US Senator Graham called for a military strike on Iran to "neuter" the regime.
Michèle Flournoy,
Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, confirmed a new approach of the US Administration towards Iran, from an attempt to engage the Iranian government "toward a pressure track with the imposition of sanctions". and also commented on the recent
Air Canada masked stowaway case, saying it raises concerns about a security breach that terrorists might exploit.
2009 forum of Canada at the Halifax International Security Forum 2011 The situation in
Afghanistan was a key issue of the inaugural Halifax Forum 2009. In his opening speech
United States Secretary of Defense,
Robert Gates, acknowledged the
military engagement of Canada in Afghanistan, with over 2,800 deployed troops and more than 130 soldiers killed. Gates emphasized the key role of the
Canadian military for the success in Afghanistan. The secretary warned the
Afghan government of a reduction of financial assistance because of
corruption. Gates urged the nations of the western hemisphere to increase their cooperation and collaboration to bolster security in the country. For the NATO troops in Afghanistan, US Senator
John McCain opposed fixed exit dates before a military success. "The exit strategy is success", McCain declared, "It's when you succeed and start to draw down." On the conflict about the nuclear program of Iran,
Ellen Tauscher,
Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs, urged the country to "engage" with the West and warned, "If persuasion doesn't work, pressure is going to have to be the next line of action." The future of the
Arctic was also an issue of the 2009 forum.
Venue The annual Forum is held in
Halifax, capital of the Canadian province of
Nova Scotia. Halifax is the largest population center in
Atlantic Canada and serves as business hub of the region. Halifax Harbour is also one of the largest
natural harbors in the world. The
Canadian Forces Base Halifax is home port to the
Atlantic Fleet of the
Royal Canadian Navy and Canada's largest military installation. Halifax is a center of Canadian shipbuilding and of the aerospace and defense industry in Atlantic Canada.
Participants , US Senator
John McCain and Colombian Minister of National Defense
Juan Carlos Pinzón Bueno at the Halifax International Security Forum 2012 The Halifax Forum is attended by international government and military officials, academic experts, authors and entrepreneurs. Prominent political participants include Ministers, Senators and Members of Parliament. The ministers included
John Baird,
Steven Blaney,
Scott Brison,
Kent Hehr,
Peter MacKay,
Rob Nicholson,
Harjit Sajjan, and
Vic Toews from Canada, as well as
Chuck Hagel,
Robert Gates,
Leon Panetta, and
Janet Napolitano from the United States. From Europe the ministers
Michael Fallon from the United Kingdom,
Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg from Germany,
Pieter De Crem from Belgium,
Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert from the Netherlands,
Jean-Yves Le Drian from France,
Pedro Morenés from Spain,
Guy Parmelin from Switzerland,
Nikola Poposki and
Zoran Jolevski from
Macedonia,
Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson from Iceland,
Nicolai Wammen from Denmark, Haki Demolli from Kosovo,
Tina Khidasheli from Georgia,
Mimi Kodheli from Albania,
Juozas Olekas from Lithuania, and
Jüri Luik from Estonia are among previous Halifax Forum participants. Also, ministers
Ehud Barak and
Moshe Ya'alon from Israel,
Juan Carlos Pinzón Bueno and Luis Carlos Villegas from Colombia,
Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda from Mexico,
Ellen Tauscher,
Alexander Vershbow, and
Robert O. Work. Participating international military officials include
Stéphane Abrial,
John R. Allen Charles Bouchard,
Haakon Bruun-Hanssen,
Peter Devlin,
Mark P. Fitzgerald,
William E. Gortney,
Frank J. Grass,
Cecil Haney,
Harry B. Harris Jr.,
Michelle Howard,
Charles H. Jacoby Jr.,
John F. Kelly,
Thomas J. Lawson,
Joseph L. Lengyel,
Jarmo Lindberg from Finland,
Paul Maddison,
Tom Middendorp,
Neil Morisetti,
Walter Natynczyk,
Jean-Paul Paloméros,
Petr Pavel,
Stuart Peach,
David G. Perkins,
Victor E. Renuart,
Michael S. Rogers,
James G. Stavridis,
Riho Terras from
Estonia, International
think tank experts, journalists, and entrepreneurs participating in the Halifax Forum include
Geneive Abdo,
Michael Auslin,
David Bercuson,
Rosa Brooks,
Tom Clark,
Steve Clemons,
Roger Cohen,
Raghida Dergham,
Paula Dobriansky,
Lyse Doucet,
Jane Harman,
Wolfgang Ischinger, Kathleen Koch,
David J. Kramer,
Kevin Newman,
Gideon Rose,
Janice Gross Stein,
Frances Townsend, and
Kurt Volker. It is designed for senior female military officers from
NATO and NATO-partner countries, aiming to equip them for future leadership positions and broaden their understanding of security. The fellowship consists of a three-week executive study tour in Canada and the United States, concluding with participation in the annual Halifax International Security Forum. During the program, fellows meet with senior political, military, business, technology, and thought leaders. The itinerary includes visits to Washington, DC, Toronto, Colorado Springs, and Ottawa, covering a wide range of security-related topics. The prize is based on principles that reflect John McCain's life and career: • Unwavering support for human freedom • Commitment to democracy, opportunity, and peace • Courage in confronting oppression and undemocratic regimes • Celebration of the human spirit in overcoming adversity • Honor in pursuing goals beyond self-interest The selection process is managed by a committee comprising the HFX Board of Directors and President. This committee evaluates potential candidates throughout the year. The prize is announced and presented during the annual Halifax International Security Forum each November, typically on Saturday morning. 2019: The citizen protesters in Hong Kong 2021: The Afghan Female Tactical Platoon 2022: The women of Ukraine (accepted by the First Lady of Ukraine
Olena Zelenska) 2023: The people of Israel (accepted by Lital Lesham of
Brothers and Sisters in Arms) 2024:
Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Kremlin critic and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer
HFXConversations HFXConversations is HFX's online publication. HFX Conversations is dedicated to bringing ideas and opinions from democratic leaders to the wider public and will publish essays and interviews when they need to be published. Previous contributors include
Olena Zelenska,
Alar Karis, Fetr Fiala, and
Issac Herzog.
15@15: Youth Building Democracy 15@15: Youth Building Democracy is a global competition launched by HFX in 2023 to mark the 15th annual Halifax International Security Forum. The program aims to engage youth in HFX's mission of strengthening strategic cooperation among democracies. The competition is open to individuals who are 15 years old, and requires applicants to submit a 15-second video about one positive change they would like to see within the next 15 years to make their world more secure. Winners of the competition receive an invitation to attend the Halifax International Security Forum. HFX President Peter Van Praagh stated that the program is "part of building a new era for democracy, opportunity and peace with youth leading the way." The initiative aims to give young people a voice in shaping policies that will affect their future. ==Halifax Canada Club==