Halifax Forum Convenes

The 16th annual Halifax International Security Forum (HFX), held from November 22 to 24, 2024, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, convened global leaders to address pressing security challenges.

Referred to by Canadian media as "The Davos of international security," the Forum's agenda encompassed topics such as Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, the influence of China, Iran, and North Korea (collectively referred to as “CRINKs”), Arctic security, and the impact of artificial intelligence on defense.

Canada's Minister of National Defence Bill Blair announced a collaboration between Defence Research and Development Canada and Australia’s Defence Science and Technology Group to research emerging missile threats and develop related countermeasures. This partnership underscores the importance of controlled technology exchange in addressing shared security concerns.

U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, co-led a bipartisan congressional delegation to the forum.

"I’m proud to lead this bipartisan delegation to the Halifax International Security Forum, which is the largest U.S. delegation to ever participate. While policy differences exist between us, there is little daylight when it comes to addressing the national security challenges we face.

"From standing by our partners in Ukraine to confronting China’s malign behavior and growing influence, our foreign policy priorities demand that we find common ground, and at this forum, we have made it perfectly clear that is what we are committed to doing,” said Sen. Shaheen, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation and co-chair of the Senate NATO Observer Group.

“How the war in Ukraine ends is going to dictate how autocrats view their ability to erode democratic values as we go forward in the 21^st century,” said Senator Risch, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “This forum is more important today than ever, as we come together with likeminded allies to find a constructive path forward. It is challenging but important work.” 

Jewish Insider reports that no one from President-elect Trump’s orbit was in attendance at the conference, which drew 300 participants from more than 60 democratic nations.