November 23, 2013 - No. 46

Canada Needs an Anti-War Government

All Out to Oppose the Halifax War Conference!
Saturday, November 23 -- 1:00 pm



Haligonians rally against threats of war against Syria, September 7, 2013.

Halifax Peace & Freedom Park (formerly Cornwallis Park), Hollis & South Sts.
Organized by: No Harbour For War
Endorsed by: Halifax Peace Coalition, CUPW,
NSPIRG, Food Not Bombs and others

For information: noharbourforwar@hotmail.com


Canada Needs an Anti-War Government

Dangerous New Military Agreement with U.S. Announced

A dangerous new military agreement was announced by the United States and Canada on November 22.

Minister of National Defence Rob Nicholson and U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel met on the margins of the Halifax International Security Forum to discuss the "Canada-U.S. defence relationship," and signed a new Canada-U.S. Asia-Pacific Defense Policy Cooperation Framework. The agreement revises the "relationship" and formally incorporates Canada deeper into the Asia Pivot strategy, also called "rebalancing," which is aimed not only against China and Korea but against all peoples of the region.

According to the Department of National Defence (DND) announcement, "The Framework will enhance the coordination of Canadian and American engagement activities in the Asia-Pacific region, build capability and capacity amongst Asian partners by coordinating training activities and exercises, and support regional forums to strengthen dialogue and cooperation."

DND also used the occasion to publish "Canada's defence relations in the Asia-Pacific region" as a so-called backgrounder.

This is a secret agreement about which Canadians in essence know nothing other than the fact it is signed. The Canadian military has long since given up any independent stand. Not only has it been under the command of the U.S. through NATO and NORAD, but since 9/11, even DND is under U.S. command. "Why is the content so dark that it cannot see the light of day? No honest and democratic government that carries an enlightened foreign policy conducts secret diplomacy with its method of intrigues, codes, lies and disinformation that has caused so much damage in the world," Tony Seed, who has studied Canada's military policy since its inception, writes. "As everyone knows there is no place in the world that the Canadian Forces go where they are not under the command of the United States. The 'relationship' is defined by over 200 military agreements such as NATO and NORAD that bind the annexed Canadian military to the Pentagon hand and foot. Any number are secret. It was through such dirty mechanisms that weapons of mass destruction such as U.S. nuclear bombs were placed on Canadian soil and bio-chemical weapons tested in Gagetown, New Brunswick and Suffield, Alberta -- and on Canadians.

"But when press releases go on to use coded phrases such as 'enhance the coordination of Canadian and American engagement activities in the Asia-Pacific region' and 'build(ing) capability' and 'coordinating training activities and exercises' only the gullible can fail to see this is an agreement to intensify war preparations in that vast region and the suppression of the struggles of its peoples. This should be a matter of grave concern for not only the Canadian and American people but for peace-loving people the world over."

The announcement claimed that "Canada and the U.S. are demonstrating their ongoing commitment to the Asia-Pacific region by contributing significant resources to humanitarian and relief efforts in the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan." In fact there is a massive influx of warships and marines into the Philippines which has triggered mass protests from the Filipinos, who demand food and water, not troops on the ground. The militarization of aid underscores the dangerous intrigues which lie under the fine-sounding phrases of "humanitarian intervention."

The Canada-U.S. Asia-Pacific Defense Policy Cooperation Framework concretizes what Obama and Harper have been putting into place gradually for some time now. The Philippines, Australia and other parts of the region had already seen an increase in the number of U.S. warships, planes and personnel since Obama announced his "pivot" in foreign, economic and security policy towards Asia in Australia in November 2011, and as it attempts to replace U.S. and Canadian troops in Afghanistan with troops from NATO bloc countries in Europe. In parallel, the DND  launched a search to establish a new military base or "hub" in Southeastern Asia, such as Malaysia, for the Canadian Forces to complement a new military "hub" that it had already announced will be located in South Korea.

TML Weekly calls on Canadians to oppose and denounce the "Canada-U.S. Asia-Pacific Defense Policy Cooperation Framework" and all the unfolding machinations between the war ministers of the U.S., Canada and the NATO bloc underway in the context of the Halifax International Security Forum.

All Out to Establish an Anti-War Government!

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Implications of Asia Pivot Military Strategy for
Atlantic Canada

Different analysts have underlined different economic factors behind this U.S. offensive in Asia of which Canada is an integral part, as China has now become the major trading partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The big banks and oil-energy and mining monopolies in Canada also have their own self-serving interests to expropriate the resources of foreign workers and lands.

It is no accident that the major military-naval port of Halifax was chosen as the venue for the announcement of the new secret military agreement, the Canada-U.S. Asia-Pacific Defense Policy Cooperation Framework, in the same way it was chosen by the U.S. in 2009 as the venue for the Halifax War Conference.

In its maritime dimension, the Asia Pivot is not just about the Pacific oceanic region; it is a two ocean strategy that includes the Indian Ocean. The U.S. Navy has been a "two ocean" navy officially since 1940, when the U.S. Congress passed the Two-Ocean Navy Act -- in effect creating one navy for the Atlantic and a second for the Pacific. But the second ocean is now the Indian Ocean. It's more accurate to say the naval forces of the U.S. empire are pivoting from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean.

The Irving empire, an official corporate sponsor of the US-NATO conference, together with other monopolies and other vested interests, are championing a new trade and sea-route called the Atlantic Gateway or Atlantica. This is to capture an increasing share of Asian trade with North America to the New England states and the heartland of the USA. This geo-strategic route links Mumbai and ports in the Indian Ocean basin, the Suez Canal, the the port of Halifax and overland through Moncton and Maine to the U.S. imperialist heartland. To this end the Halifax Port Authority has opened a promotional office in Mumbai, India. The "Asia Pivot" strategy enhances their prospects for a bigger share of the pie in the trafficking of goods and resources plundered from that region. In parallel, secret arrangements have been made with the New England Governors as part of integrating the Canadian Maritimes and the New England provinces.

It is also no accident that from October 26 to November 5, the Canadian Armed Forces participated in an annual U.S.-Canada military exercise termed Exercise Frontier Sentinel 2013. The major focus was on harbours and ports in various locations throughout the Maritime provinces, notably Halifax, Pictou, and Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia, PEI, and along parts of the U.S. eastern seaboard.

The major exercise -- little publicized, yet one more in the series of "baby steps" -- involved all three elements of the Canadian Armed Forces -- the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army and Royal Canadian Air Force -- in addition to the naval forces of the United States, the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and several other government agencies such as Homeland Security. Frontier Sentinel was carried out under North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command.

The exercises are staged to "improve mutual security" of these harbours. Talk about infiltration from abroad is to cover up the seditious nature of the Harper government's actions -- the placement of foreign troops in Canadian territory, and the aim: military domination.

Map of Sea Routes from Atlantic Gateway

Maps of the sea routes being contended for by the Atlantic Gateway reveal the extent of the global ambitions of the Irving empire and the political and economic elite.






Click to enlarge.

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Halifax International Security Forum

Network of Subversion, Annexation and War
in the Making

One of the unstated aims of the U.S. organizers of the Halifax International Security Forum (HISF), aka the Halifax War Conference, is the direct mobilization of monopolies in Canada and their integration into the drive of the U.S. Empire for war and domination. This includes their integration into the foreign policy, military and security establishment of the state as a component part of the annexation of Canada. One of the instruments of this drive is the formation of the "Halifax Canada Club" -- a fifth column in the making.

According to a release issued by the HISF from its Washington, DC headquarters, the "Halifax Canada Club" is "a new public-private partnership" between the HISF, the Harper government and MEG Energy of Calgary, so as to "ensure that world leaders continue their work toward mutual understanding and joint action at the annual Halifax International Security Forum."

At present, the richest monopolies involved in war production, the arms trade and the security field are already either "partners" or participants in the HISF. These include General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, Hill and Knowlton, and Irving Shipyards. Nevertheless, the HISF has failed to attract and penetrate the ranks of corporate executives in any way comparable to that achieved by military associations formed coming out of World War I and II.

The agency aims to involve corporate executives from across Canada in a new organized form. According to the release, "The Halifax Canada Club will be extending membership invitations to other prominent Canadian and international companies and individuals who are respected leaders in their fields committed to international peace and security" (emphasis added). What they are preparing is not discussed. But the release adds, "This new body gives the private sector an opportunity to participate alongside government in the unique and valuable discussions that take place at the Forum, and to help foster debate on leading international topics including energy security, democratic institution building, and defense relations."

The release claims "the HISF brings together leaders from Canada, the United States, South America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia [who] have called Halifax International Security Forum the place to get things done." (Emphasis added.)

Invitation Only

The release also noted, "Every November since 2009, leaders of the world's democracies have gathered in Halifax, Nova Scotia for an invitation-only weekend to share ideas for strengthening security and expanding opportunities for the citizens of their countries." (Emphasis added.)

Thus, the exclusive participation in "unique and valuable discussions" and "debate on leading international topics including energy security, democratic institution building, and defense relations" is to be based on the acceptance of select "membership invitations to other prominent Canadian and international companies and individuals" in "an invitation-only weekend."

Despite these being such significant discussions on the future of our country and other countries, no representatives of the First Nations or workers' organizations are invited to speak about the concerns of the peoples. This alone reveals the complete lack of legitimacy of the direction being taken by the Harper and Obama governments.

MEG Energy

MEG is an 89.1 per cent foreign-, mainly U.S.-owned oil monopoly seeking to make the big score from the plunder of the Alberta oilsands (the Christina Lake oil sands, about 60 km north of Ft. McMurray), including the Northern Gateway pipeline to export oil to China (which has a 15 per cent stake in MEG) and the Keystone XL pipeline to carry raw bitumen south to the U.S. empire. Both pipelines are facing fierce opposition. Its 2012 output is estimated at "just above 28,000 barrels a day, with plans to increase that nearly 10-fold by 2020. It has acquired land that contains over 2 billion barrels of reserves, so it possesses enough oil to be significant."

Formed just 11 years ago, MEG is closely connected to the Conservative Party, which champions the interests of the oil and gas monopolies: the late Peter Lougheed, Premier of Alberta from 1971 to 1985 who was co-chair of the free trade lobby when the Free Trade Agreement was signed in 1988, was a member of its board. Its sudden appearance at the 2012 HISF coincided with the presence of Alberta premier Alison Redford as a speaker at the HISF; she was in the Maritimes negotiating with the Irving oil monopoly and New Brunswick for a trans-Canada pipeline.

A major shareholder (24 per cent) in MEG is Warburg Pincus LLP, a U.S.-based investment firm that manages over $30 billion in private equity assets globally. In the past two years, New York's Warburg Pincus has invested in five other Canadian energy companies -- Black Swan Energy, Canbriam Energy, Endurance Energy, Osum Oil Sands and Velvet Energy.

The state-owned China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) owns 14.8 per cent, purchased in April 2005. (Enbridge's Northern Gateway pipeline aims to connect Chinese-owned oil sands production in Northern Alberta with refineries in China via the pipeline and oil tankers through Kitimat, BC.)[1]

This initiative to form such a "club" is in conformity with traditional strategies elaborated by the Council on Foreign Relations, U.S. sponsor of the HISF, of "forming elite regional opinion" and networks as a component part of the annexation of countries by the United States, as well as those of the Princeton Project on National Security (2004-06).[2]

The involvement of MEG in HISF disinformation expands the front of the Halifax War Conference from the armaments, military and security sectors and the foreign policy think tanks to include the oil cartel. The principal reason is to strengthen their front against the resistance to the energy monopolies' unconstrained exploitation of the oil sands and other petroleum resources, of which Alberta is a centre of opposition, as well as to ensure that Canadian oil production and export conform with the plans of the U.S. and NATO.

Taking into account Fortress America or Fortress North America, the security perimeter agreement, part of the SPP agreement (Security and Prosperity Partnership Agreement of North America), their program is a union of North American monopolies in which all the working class and the resources of Canada and Mexico are annexed by the U.S.A. so as to compete more effectively with Europe for the domination of Asia.

Agent Hall, Obama's New Agent for "Democracy Promotion" in Canada

Recruitment to the Halifax Canada Club is by invitation and is to be directly organized from Washington by Joseph Hall, vice-president of the HISF. Whether or not that includes executive control of the Halifax Canada Club is not revealed.

Joseph Hall is an experienced and veteran agent in subversion for the U.S. state. For the past 17 years, Hall was Middle East and North Africa senior advisor for the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and senior director, NDI, Lebanon, a "democracy promotion" and regime change organization heavily subsidized by USAID and the National Endowment for Democracy. According to his profile, he has the luxury of one home in the mountains of Lebanon and another in Washington. According to the HISF website, "Mr. Hall opened the first NDI office in Cairo in 2005 and had the privilege to be in Cairo in January and February of 2011." (emphasis added).

Hall, in fact, directed the NDI office in January-February, 2011. In April 2011 NDI reported that "it had received a two-year grant totaling $14 million to assist democratic reform efforts in Egypt."[3] The funds were provided by the US State Department and USAID. Following raids in December 2011 on 17 foreign and Egyptian NGOs for meddling in internal affairs, Cairo put NED operatives, including the son of the US Secretary of Transportation, on a "no fly" list, and announced it would prosecute a number of individuals, including 19 Americans and the NDI director for Egypt, for engaging in illegal activities, which the U.S. qualified as catastrophic. The U.S. citizens charged were from the payroll of three organisations: The International Republican Institute (IRI), National Democratic Institute (NDI) and Freedom House. By this time Hall had flown the coop.

The organized recruitment of selected corporate executives and Canadian personalities is an activity far removed from the accepted functions of the secretariat of an annual policy conference. It also directly bypasses long-standing agencies of the Canadian establishment such as the Canadian Institute of International Affairs, the Atlantic Council of Canada and the United Nations Association.

What is astounding is not the sheer audacity of this manoeuvre but that such bodies, as with the Liberal and New Democratic parties who are now also directly participating in the Halifax War Conference, are silent. It suggests that the warmongering agenda of the Halifax War Conference includes nation-wrecking and the usurping of decision-making in the sphere of foreign and military policy of Canada, based on eliminating the opposition and resistance of the workers and peoples including the First Nations to the unrestrained plunder of our land, labour and resources.

Notes

1. ANDREW WILLIS, "MEG Energy launches massive IPO," The Globe and Mail, Monday, Jun. 14 2010, 11:27 PM EDT, http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/streetwise/meg-energy-launches-massive-ipo/article1367942/

2. About the Princeton Project on National Security (2004-06)

The HISF was founded in 2009 by the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) as a covert weapon of the U.S. state during the first year of the Barrack Obama presidency.

One of the chief reasons was to escalate the combat of "anti-Americanism" whose casualties had included the Bush agenda of unilaterialism, pre-emptive war through the formation of a "coalition of centrists" based on the tenets of humanitarian or liberal interventionism -- as, for instance, concentrated in the Princeton Project on National Security (2004-2006), also funded in part by the GMF -- to re-organize and intensify the onslaught of disinformation abroad (called public diplomacy), to establish new international networks as instruments of political and psychological warfare and new forms of subversion. The Report formed part of the Obama agenda.

The techniques were overtly based on those set up following World War II to "contain" communism and the freedom struggles, which launched the Cold War. Three specific aims -- securing the homeland against hostile attacks or fatal epidemics; building a healthy global economy, "which is essential for our own prosperity and security"; and constructing "a benign international environment" grounded in security cooperation among nations and the spread of liberal democracy -- should constitute Washington's basic objectives, according to the Report.

One of the principal weapons by which American imperial interests are to be realized is through the mechanism of centrally directed and controlled global networks:

"We should establish and institutionalize networks of national, regional, and local government officials and nongovernmental representatives to create numerous channels for [democratic] nations and others to work on common problems and to communicate and inculcate the values and practices that safeguard liberty under law." [Final Report, p.7.] The aim is to intersect "international institutions and domestic governments institutions providing incentives and pressure to help conquer dysfunctional levels of corruption and bolster the rule of law " [99 Final Report, p.23.]

These were not left to chance. Within a short period, the GMF convened strategic conferences at the NATO Summits in Istanbul, Riga and Bucharest as well as the Brussels Forums on NATO's new "security doctrine." Following the Strasbourg/Kehl Summit in 2009, the Halifax Security Forum was launched in November, 2009.

3. Abdel-Baky, "Courting a backlash," Al-Ahram Weekly Online, 5-11 January 2012, http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2011/1079/eg2.htm

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For Your Information

Government of Canada Backgrounder:
Defence Relations in Asia- Pacific

The Government of Canada describes its defence relations with the "Asia-Pacific Region" as follows:

"As a Pacific country, Canada considers its relations with its Asia-Pacific neighbours a priority. Canadian security and prosperity are linked to the vitality of Asia's economy and the stability of the region. In support of this agenda, the Department of National Defence (DND) and Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are committed to strengthening peace and security in the region and enhancing their engagement in Asia-Pacific."

The Government claims that its involvement ranges "(f)rom our commitment of resources towards humanitarian and relief efforts following Typhoon Haiyan, to our participation in regional military exercises and high-level defence fora," and that it is "proud of the steps that we have taken in recent years to bolster defence relations and increase cooperation with Canada's partners in the Asia-Pacific region."

The backgrounder describes Canada's multilateral defence relations and regional military exercises as follows:

Multilateral Defence Relations

Contemporary defence and security challenges in the Asia-Pacific region, such as criminal networks, territorial disputes, natural disasters, terrorism, as well as concerns about the freedom of movement at sea can reach beyond the borders of a single state and affect the security and defence of the entire region. Responding to these challenges and mitigating their effects demands multilateral, regional responses: concerted, cooperative efforts that involve many countries pooling their resources, coordinating their efforts, and increasing interoperability between armed forces.

Multilateral defence relations are an important component of Canada's overall engagement in the Asia-Pacific region. From a defence perspective, DND/CAF supports Canada's diplomatic relationships in part by participating in a number of high-level multilateral defence meetings and conferences. An important example is the annual International Institute for Strategic Studies' Asia Security Summit (Shangri-La Dialogue) in Singapore. This premier, inter-governmental event is a crucial venue for dialogue on the security and defence of the region, and is attended by ministers and chiefs of defence from Asia-Pacific and beyond. Canada's Minister of National Defence at that time, the Honourable Peter MacKay, was an active participant at the 2013 Shangri-La Dialogue together with General Tom Lawson, Canada's Chief of the Defence Staff. They exchanged best practices and discussed opportunities for increased collaboration with Canada's Asian partners and other traditional partners and allies in areas such as peacekeeping, civil-military relations, maritime security, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief.

Another important example of high-level defence conferences that support Canada's defence relations is the United States Pacific Command Chiefs of Defence Conference. This important meeting is attended by chiefs of defence including General Lawson, as well as other senior military leaders in the Asia-Pacific region. At the Chiefs of Defence Conference, these senior military leaders discuss mutual security challenges and encourage security cooperation.

Perhaps the most important example of Canada's multilateral relations in the Asia-Pacific region is Canada's relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Since 1977, Canada has engaged with ASEAN as well as its member states (Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam). As the cornerstone of Canada's multilateral relations in the Asia-Pacific region, ASEAN provides a forum for Canada to engage in an important dialogue on Asia's defence and security issues.

Under the ASEAN organizational umbrella, Canada also participates in the ASEAN Regional Forum, which is designed to strengthen cooperation amongst member states to foster peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region. Canada is committed to contributing further to the Asia-Pacific security architecture and has announced its interest in participating in the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus and the East Asia Summit. The CAF have also taken part in other regional exercises such as the ASEAN Regional Forum's disaster relief exercise (DiREx).

Regional Military Exercises

The CAF is involved in a number of regional exercises that support multilateral defence relations. For example, the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) continues to be engaged in a number of military exercises and deployments throughout the Asia-Pacific region. These cooperative endeavours serve to foster invaluable relationships and connections between the RCN and the navies of other countries in the region. For example, from June to August 2012, over 1400 sailors, soldiers and airwomen and airmen participated in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, which is conducted every two years in the Hawaiian Operations Area. RIMPAC is the world's largest international maritime military exercise, involving forces from Australia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Canada is also a major participant in the Ulchi Freedom Guardian Exercise, which tests the operational control of the combined forces on the Korean peninsula. For the last 2 years, the CAF contingent has been the largest amongst the 16 participating countries. Canada also participated in the Key Resolve/Foal Eagle exercise series in South Korea, a field training exercise designed to improve the combined and joint operational posture of South Korean and U.S. military forces.

Canada has also participated in the KHAAN QUEST series of exercises, hosted by the Mongolian Armed Forces and co-sponsored by the Mongolian Armed Forces, U.S..Army Pacific and the Alaskan Air National Guard, under the U.S. Department of Defense Humanitarian and Civic Assistance program. The exercises are designed to enhance individual and professional readiness and tactical interoperability in the delivery of humanitarian assistance between regional partners.

Bilateral Defence Relations

Bilateral, country-to-country defence relations between Canada and individual Asia-Pacific states are another important component of Canada's defence relations in the region. In addition to bilateral defence relations with partners in the Asia-Pacific region as described below, Canada also recently signed a Canada-U.S. Asia-Pacific Defense Policy Cooperation Framework with the U.S. This Framework provides the foundation for Canada and the U.S. to coordinate the conduct of recurring and mutually reinforcing defence-related engagement activities with our Asian partners.

Bilateral Defence Relations: North East Asia

In support of a whole-of-government approach that seeks to enhance Canada's bilateral relationships with North East Asian countries, the DND and CAF are engaged in initiatives in China, Japan, South Korea, and Mongolia. For example, in May 2013, Canada strengthened defence cooperation with Mongolia by signing a Memorandum of Understanding which outlines possible opportunities for information exchanges, civilian and military expert visits, military education and training, and international peacekeeping activities.

Canada recognizes that China is an important economic and military power. The DND and CAF have growing relations with the Ministry of National Defence of the People's Republic of China and the Chinese People's Liberation Army, and will continue to engage in dialogue about issues of regional and international security. To further advance this emerging bilateral defence relationship, high-level meetings have taken place between senior DND and CAF officials and China's People's Liberation Army officials, including a visit by Canada's then Chief of the Defence Staff, General Walt Natynczyk, in March 2012, and the June 2013 visit by Minister MacKay. At the 2013 meeting, Minister MacKay and China's Minister of Defence, General Chang Wanquan, agreed to establish a Defence Coordination Dialogue to discuss defence issues of mutual concern and affirmed their intent to establish a Cooperation Plan Initiative between the People's Liberation Army and Canada's Defence Team, which would guide defence-related activities. Building on these exchanges, Canada's newly appointed Minister of National Defence, the Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, and the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Tom Lawson, met with General Chang Wanquan for a bilateral exchange in Ottawa in August 2013. At the meeting, Minister Nicholson and General Chang signed the Cooperation Plan Initiative.

Japan is a valued regional and global security partner. We share a common set of values and interests, including promoting and upholding democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, access to open markets, arms control, and disarmament. These values are the bedrock of steady defence relations between Canada and Japan on a number of regional and global issues. Bilateral agreements, such as the 2010 Canada-Japan Joint Declaration on Political, Peace and Security Cooperation greatly contribute to deepening this defence relationship. Canada also has a range of agreements to cooperate with Japan on issues such as defence policy, interoperability and cross-services, nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, disaster prevention and emergency response and peacekeeping. During a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on September 23, 2013, Prime Minister Harper announced agreement in principle on a Treaty. Known as the Canada-Japan Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA), the Treaty, once approved by both countries' parliamentary processes, will be a milestone for the bilateral defence relationship. The ACSA will enable Canadian Armed Forces and Japan's Self-Defense Force units to exchange basic goods and services wherever both forces are cooperating, such as during training, exercises, and a limited range of operations, notably humanitarian assistance missions. The ACSA will not involve the stationing of troops in either country.

Canada has long enjoyed positive bilateral defence relations with the Republic of Korea. These defence relations have a foundation in the Canadian contribution to the Korean War and have evolved into a rich history of strong political and economic partnerships and cooperation. This relationship continues to advance. Contributing to this relationship are a number of high-level visits, such the December 2012 visit by South Korean Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik and Prime Minister Harper's March 2012 visit to Seoul. Canada also fosters bilateral relations with South Korea through bilateral defence agreements, such as the Mutual Support Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which enables improved logistical support and increased interoperability between Canada and South Korea's military forces.

Canada recently joined South Korea in recognizing the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Korean Armistice and marked the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries. These milestones offered an opportunity for DND and CAF to connect with South Korean military staff to deepen cooperation and mutual defence interests in areas such as regional defence. Canada and South Korea continue to explore new areas and avenues of cooperation, such as enhanced collaboration during key regional exercises, including continued CAF participation in Ulchi Freedom Guardian.

Bilateral Defence Relations: South East Asia

While Canada engages its South East Asian partners multilaterally through ASEAN, the DND/CAF are also growing defence relations and initiatives with our South East Asian neighbours on a bilateral basis. These defence relations reflect the priority the DND/CAF place on mutual security and cooperative interests. Some examples of bilateral defence cooperation across the region include:

High-level meetings, such as Minister MacKay's bilateral visits to Singapore and Thailand, in June 2012 during which Minister MacKay highlighted CAF/DND activities in South East Asia and emphasized Canada's desire to contribute to security in the region. In 2012, General Lawson also attended the U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) Chiefs of Defence Staff Conference and met with numerous Asia-Pacific counterparts. General Lawson also visited Thailand in 2013;

Ship visits, such as the February 2013 visit of HMCS Regina to Port Klang, Malaysia, and Manila, Philippines; and,

Defence education cooperation in locations such as Brunei, for example, which hosted the Commandant of the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in winter 2013.

Bilateral Defence Relations: Oceania

Located in the Central and South Pacific Ocean, Canada has long enjoyed positive bilateral defence relations in Oceania, particularly with Australia and New Zealand, which are both members of the Five Eyes intelligence community.

Defence relations between Canada and Australia are deep and enduring, with Australia being one of Canada's closest partners in the Asia-Pacific region and globally. We share a common outlook on international security issues as well as a like-minded approach to operations. We have a solid foundation of defence cooperation including exercises, training, academic exchanges, high-level visits and current operations in Afghanistan.

Recent high-level visits that support and foster defence relations with Australia have included Minister's MacKay's visit to Australia in 2011. The trip was successful in strengthening the relationship and resulted in commitments to hold ministerial meetings, policy talks, and chief of defence meetings regularly. Both Minister MacKay and General Lawson met with their Australian counterpart at the Shangri-La Dialogue in the spring of 2013. Canada also has a Canadian defence attaché posted to Australia that is cross-accredited to New Zealand.

Canada and New Zealand also enjoy a robust history of defence cooperation. Historically, the CAF and the New Zealand Defence Forces (NZDF) have worked together in a number of international security operations, such as Afghanistan, Bosnia, and East Timor. A number of high-level visits have also taken place recently between Canada and New Zealand, such as Minister MacKay's meeting with the New Zealand Defence Minister, and Chief of the Defence Staff, General Tom Lawson's meeting with his New Zealand counterpart in May 2013 during the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

Since 2005, the CAF and the NZDF have participated in CANZEX (Canada New Zealand Exchange), a program that includes joint training and enhances cooperation and interoperability between our militaries. The CAF also participates in programs such as REGULUS, a Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) training program.

Bilateral Defence Relations: South West Asia

South West Asia covers the area from Afghanistan in the west to India in the east, and extends north as far as the former Soviet republics and south into the Indian Ocean. Canada has deep links to this region, which includes several members of the Commonwealth. A significant number of Canadian families trace their roots back to South West Asia, and Canada has made a major effort to promote security in the region, most significantly through our mission in Afghanistan.

Canada has an important and expanding relationship with India. Canada and India share common values, including a commitment to democracy and pluralism. High-level visits, such as Prime Minister Harper's visit in 2012, have underscored the importance of this relationship. Canada and India are currently exploring potential areas for future defence cooperation, including training exchanges. Recent engagements have included a visit by HMCS Regina to Mumbai in January 2013, which coincided with meetings of Canada's Deputy Ministers of National Defence and Public Safety with their Indian counterparts. Such engagements help strengthen the defence and security relationship and promote cooperation.

Pakistan remains an important partner for Canada in the global fight against terrorism, and Canada and Pakistan continue to work together to enhance defence and security in the region. High-level visits supporting this relationship have included the May 2012 visit by Pakistan's Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Khalid Shaheem Wynne. Minister MacKay, General Natynczyk, and General Wynne discussed bilateral, regional and global defence issues. General Wynne also participated in CANSEC 2012, Canada's leading defence and security trade show.

Canada's enduring relationship with Afghanistan will continue long after the end of our military training mission in March 2014. Canadians will not forget the sacrifices of the 158 CAF members who died working on behalf of Canada to help bring security to the Afghan people. To ensure the future stability of a secure and democratic Afghanistan, Canada will continue to provide financial support to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Canada's ultimate goal is to sustain the gains that have been made since the fall of the Taliban regime and help Afghans rebuild Afghanistan into a viable country that is better governed, more stable and secure, and never again a safe haven for terrorists.

The Military Training and Cooperation Program

As an important instrument of defence diplomacy and as part of the whole-of-government approach stated in the Canada First Defence Strategy, the Military Training and Cooperation Program (MTCP):

Enhances peace support operations' interoperability among Canada's partners;

Expands and reinforces Canadian bilateral defence relations;

Promotes Canadian democratic principles, the rule of law and the protection of human rights in the international arena; and,

Achieves influence in areas of strategic interest to Canada.

The MTCP operates a number of training programs throughout the Asia-Pacific region, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Phillipines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, and Thailand. Other regional MTCP activities have included:

Adding Japan as an implementing partner of the MTCP. As an implementing partner, Japan contributed to the program by providing instructors/lecturers on the MTCP Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC) tactical courses conducted in Tanzania (2012) and Senegal (2013).

Naming Indonesia as an MTCP "Centre of Excellence," with CAF and Indonesian forces partnering to provide training in Indonesia to military personnel from Asia-Pacific MTCP member states. Indonesia is both a priority member state of the MTCP and one of its top recipients (both in terms of budget and positions on courses). The MTCP provided training to over 150 personnel, including 43 positions in 2013-14 in courses on topics such as English language, peacekeeping, and public affairs, in addition to staff training such as National Security Studies and Canadian Security Studies. A successful Peace Support Seminar was conducted at the Indonesian Peace and Security Centre in July 2012 in partnership with the Indonesian National Armed Forces, which was followed by a Public Affairs Workshop in the fall. In 2013-2014, the DND will sponsor another Peace Support Workshop and a Civil Military Relations Workshop in Indonesia.

Offering 27 vacancies to Malaysia (up from 10 positions in 2012/2013) for courses in 2013-2014 for English-language training, staff training and peacekeeping operations.

Granting 21 placements to Mongolian Armed Forces personnel in 2013-2014 for courses on English and French languages, peacekeeping missions, and junior officer-staff training.

Providing training to 150 military members from the Philippines since 1998. Members of the armed forces of the Philippines have participated in a variety of courses through the MTCP, as well as staff officer development training and peace support operations training.

Training over 340 Thai officers in Canada since 1985. In 2013-2014, 24 Thai officers will be offered training in peacekeeping, staff officer development, and English-language training.

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Complete List of Approved Security Forum Delegates

2013 Conference Participants

- Stéphane Abrial, Advisor to the President and CEO, Safran
- Mohammed Abu Lahoum, Head, Justice and Building Party, Yemen
- Nazanin Afshin-Jam MacKay, Founder, Stop Child Executions
- M. J. Akbar, Editor-in-Chief, Sunday Guardian
-
Rinat Akhmetshin, Director, International Eurasian Institute
- Farea al Muslimi, Yemen's Colleague, Resonate Yemen
- Mariam Al-khawaja, Acting President, Bahrain Center for Human Rights
- John Allen, Distinguished Fellow, The Brookings Institution
- Alejandro Alvargonzßlez San Martin, Secretary General for Defense Policy, Ministry of Defense, Kingdom of Spain
- Simon Ancona, Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff (Military Strategy), Ministry of Defence, United Kingdom
- Eleftherios Anghelopoulos, Ambassador of Greece to Canada, Embassy of Greece in Canada
- James Appathurai, Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy, North Atlantic Treaty Organization
- Siavosh Arasteh, Managing Director, AgFlow
- Kelli Arena, Executive Director, Global Center for Journalism and Democracy, Sam Houston State University
- Derrick Ashong, Host, D.N.A.
- Terry Audla, President, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami
- Michael Auslin, Resident Scholar, American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, Columnist, Wall Street Journal
-
Tuncay Babali, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey, Embassy of the Republic of Turkey to Canada
- Craig Baines, Special Advisor to the Chief of Defence Staff, Department of National Defence, Canada
- John Baird, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, Canada
- James Baker, Principal Deputy Director, Joint Staff, Strategic Plans and Policy, US Department of Defense
- Shukria Barakzai, Defense Commission Chief, National Assembly of Afghanistan
- John Barrasso, Senator, United States
- Berend Willem Bargerbos, Principal Director of General Policy Affairs, Ministry of Defense, Kingdom of the Netherlands
-
Espen Barth Eide, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Norway
- Scott Bates, President, Center for National Policy
- Stuart Beare, Commander, Canadian Joint Operations Command
- Christine Beerli, Permanent Vice-President, International Committee of the Red Cross
Henry Bensurto, Jr.
- Assistant Secretary of Foreign Affairs, West Philippine Sea Center, Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of the Philippines
- Jean Bétermier, President, Forum du Futur
- David Black, Director, Centre for Foreign Policy Studies, Dalhousie University
- Steven Blaney, Minister of Public Safety, Department of Public Safety, Canada
- Eric Block, Partner, McCarthy Tetrault
- Lincoln Bloomfield, Jr., Chairman, Stimson Center
- Scott Borg, Director and Chief Economist, United States Cyber Consequences Unit
- Laura Bridge, Manager, External Relations, Halifax International Security Forum
- Darrell Bricker, Chief Executive Officer, Ipsos Public Affairs
- Yves Brodeur, Permanent Representative of Canada to NATO, Joint Delegation of Canada to NATO
- Ian Brodie, Research Director, School of Public Policy, University of Calgary
- Pete Brodnitz, Principal, Benenson Strategy Group
- Christian Brose, Foreign Policy Advisor, Senator John McCain
- Kerry Buck, Assistant Deputy Minister of International Security, Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean, Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, Canada
- Gerald Butts, Principal Advisor, Office of Justin Trudeau
- Mark Cameron, Director, Global Public Policy, BlackBerry
- Leslie Campbell, Senior Associate and Regional Director, Middle East and North Africa Programs, National Democratic Institute
- Cengiz Andar, Journalist, Radikal Daily
- Scott Carpenter, Deputy Director, Google Ideas
- James Cartwright, Harold Brown Chair in Defense Policy Studies, Center for Strategic and International Studies
- Wendy Chamberlin, President, Middle East Institute, Rajiv Chandrasekaran, Senior Correspondent and Associate Editor, The Washington Post
- Asif Chaudhry, Foreign Policy Advisor to the Chief of Naval Operations, Unites States Navy
- Sarah Chayes, Senior Associate, Democracy and Rule of Law Program and South Asia Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
- Joseph Cirincione, President, Ploughshares Fund
- Lamine Ciss, Former Chief of Defense Staff, Former Minister of Interior, UN Coordinator SSR Guinea, Senegalese Armed Forces
- Tom Clark, Chief Political Correspondent, Global News
- Steve Clemons, Editor-at-Large, The Atlantic
- Marshall Conley, President, Conley-International
- Karen Courington, Military Legislative Aide, Senator Tim Kaine
- Missy Cummings, Associate Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Bill Dalson, Corporate International Business Development, The Americas, Lockheed Martin Corporation
- Arnaud Danjean, Chair, Subcommittee on Security and Defense, European Parliament
Mikheil Darchiashvili, Deputy Minister of Defense, Ministry of Defense, Georgia
- Premvir Das, Member, Executive Council, Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses
- Glenn Davidson, Former Ambassador of Canada to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
- Howard Dean, Former Governor of Vermont, Senior Strategic Advisor, McKenna Long Aldridge LLP
- Francis Delon, Secretary General for Defense and National Security, Office of the Prime Minister, France
- Paul Dewar, Member of Parliament, Ottawa Centre, House of Commons, Canada
- Jackson Diehl, Deputy Editorial Page Editor, The Washington Post
- Yoram Dinstein, Professor Emeritus of International Law and President, Tel Aviv University, Israel and UN Association of Israel
- Paula Dobriansky, Senior Fellow, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard University
- Gary Doer, Ambassador of Canada to the United States of America, Embassy of Canada to the United States
-
Lyse Doucet, Presenter, BBC World Service
- Howard Drake, British High Commissioner to Canada, British High Commission, Canada
- Yochi Dreazen, Senior Writer, Foreign Policy
- David Ellis, Rabbi-at-Large, The Atlantic Jewish Council
- Mieke Eoyang, Director of the National Security Program, Third Way
- Philippe Errera, Director, Strategic Affairs, Ministry of Defense, France
- Golnaz Esfandiari, Senior Correspondent, Blogger, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
- Richard Fadden, Deputy Minister, Department of National Defence, Canada
- Dean Fealk, Partner and Group Chair, DLA Piper
- Dexter Filkins, Foreign Correspondent, The New York Times
- Kristian Fischer, Deputy Permanent Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence, Denmark
- Helga Flores Trejo, Principal External Relations Advisor, Inter-American Development Bank
- Chris Fomunyoh, Senior Associate and Regional Director for Central and West Africa
National Democratic Institute
- Robert Fonberg, Special Advisor to the Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet
Privy Council Office
- Liam Fox, Member of Parliament for North Somerset, House of Commons, United Kingdom
- Stephen Flynn, Professor of Political Science & Director, Center for Resilience Studies, Northeastern University
-
Bruce Friedman, Deputy Director, Office of Brazilian and Southern Cone Affairs, US Department of State
- Tidiane Gadio, President, Pan-African Institute of Strategy
- Ulf Gartzke, Managing Partner and Founder, Spitzberg Partners LLC
- John Gastright, Vice President, Government Relations, DynCorp International
- Leslie Gatan, Ambassador of the Philippines to Canada, Embassy of the Philippines, Canada
- Jennifer Gearey, Director of Communications for the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Ministry of Justice, Canada
- Matthias Gebauer, Chief Correspondent, DER SPIEGEL
- Jay Ghazal, President, Ghazal & Associates, LLC
- Amos Gilad, Head of the Political-Military and Policy Bureau, Ministry of Defense, Israel
- John Glenn, Policy Director, US Global Leadership Coalition
- Walter Goodfellow, Justice (Ret.), Supreme Court of Nova Scotia
- Daivd Gough, Chair, Atlantic Chapter, American Chamber of Commerce in Canada
- Ladislav Grabar, Defense Attach, Embassy of Slovenia to the United States
- Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy, North Atlantic Treaty Organization
-
Camille Grand, Director, The Foundation for Strategic Research
- Jonathan W. Greenert, Chief of Naval Operations, United States Navy
- Mike Greenley, Director, Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries
- Maryscott Greenwood, Executive Director, Canadian American Business Council
- Robert Gruendel, Partner and Global Chair, Energy Sector, DLA Piper
- Jakub Grygiel, George H.W. Bush Senior Associate Professor of International Relations, John Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies
- François Guimont, Deputy Minister, Public Safety Canada
- Chuck Hagel, Secretary of Defense, U.S. Department of Defense
- Joseph Hall, Vice President, Halifax International Security Forum
- Aleqa Hammond, Premier, Government of Greenland
- Fen Hampson, Distinguished Fellow and Director of the Global Security Program, The Centre for International Governance Innovation
- Husain Haqqani, Senior Fellow and Director for South and Central Asia, Hudson Institute
- Allison Hart, Special Advisor, Public Diplomacy, North Atlantic Treaty Organization
- Sasha Havlicek, CEO, Institute for Strategic Dialogue
- Laurie Hawn, Co-Chair, Canada-US Joint Board of Defense
  -Cho Hee-yong, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Canada, Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Canada
- Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, Minister of Defense, Ministry of Defense, Kingdom of the Netherlands
- Steven Heydemann, Senior Advisor, Middle East Initiative, US Institute for Peace
- Rodrigo Hinzpeter, Minister of National Defense, Ministry of National Defense, Chile
- Christine Hogan, Foreign Defence Policy Advisor
- Office of the Prime Minister, Canada, Peter Hogan, Vice President, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
- Matthew Mark Horn, Government Relations & Policy Advisor, MMH Global Strategies, LLC
- Andrew House, Chief of Staff, Public Safety Canada
- Heather Hurlburt, Senior Advisor, National Security Network
- Wolfgang Ischinger, Chairman, Munich Security Conference
- Farahnaz Ispahani, Public Policy Scholar, The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
- Oscar Izurieta, Undersecretary of Defense, Ministry of National Defense, Chile
- Bruce Jackson, Founder and President, Project on Transitional Democracies
- Charles Jacoby, Commander, United States Northern Command, North American Aerospace Defense Command
- Roman Jakic, Minister of Defense, Ministry of Defense, Republic of Slovenia
- Jackson Janes, President, American Institute for Contemporary Studies
- Cesar Jaramillo, Program Officer, Project Ploughshares
- Said Jawad, Chief Executive Officer, Capitalize LLC
- Josef Joffe, Editor, Die Zeit
- Matthew Johnson, Project Director, Ships Economic and Rural Development and Tourism Major Initiatives and Projects Office, Nova Scotia
- Matthew Kaminski, Member, Editorial Board, The Wall Street Journal
- Eiichi Katahara, Director, Regional Studies Department, National Institute for Defense Studies
- John Kavanagh, Manager, Entrepreneurship and Business Skills Development, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
- Madonna Kent, Director General, Advocacy & Industrial Benefits, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
- Adam Kinzinger, Representative, United States
- Suat Kiniklioglu, Executive Director of STRATIM, Former Member of Parliament, Center for Strategic Communication (STRATIM)
- Rachel Kleinfeld, Senior Associate, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, President Emeritus, Truman National Security Project
- Martin Klingst, Washington Bureau Chief, Die Zeit
- Kathleen Koch, Author, Journalist
- Kemal Köprülü, Publisher, Turkish Policy Quarterly
- David Kramer, President, Freedom House
- Ivan Krastev, Chairman of the Board, Programme Director, Political Research, Centre for Liberal Strategies
- Tomoko Kurokawa, Visiting Scholar, Nuclear Policy Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
- Daniel Kurtz-Phelan, Fellow, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
- Alfred Kwende, Former Chief Investigator/UNICTR, International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda
- Ron L'Esperance, President, Group ATN Consultants
- Francois Lafond, Executive Director, Europanova
- Evan Laksmana, Fulbright Presidential PhD Scholar, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University, Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Jakarta
- Tim Kaine, Senator, United States
- Richard Kirkland, Vice President, Corporate International Business Development, Lockheed Martin Corporation
- Daniel Kostoval, First Deputy Minister of Defense, Ministry of Defense & Armed Forces of the Czech Republic
- Karin Landgren, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Liberia, United Nations
- Isabelle Lasserre, Associate Editor, Le Figaro
- Thomas Lawson, Chief of Defence Staff, Canadian Forces
- Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister of Defense, Ministry of Defense, France
- Paul LeBlanc, President, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Pierre Lellouche, Deputy for the 1st District of Paris, French National Assembly
- Lauri Lepik, Permanent Representative of Estonia, North Atlantic Treaty Organization
- Kadri Liik, Head of Wider Europe Programme, European Council on Foreign Relations
- Nancy Lindborg, Assistant Administrator for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance
USAID
- Linas Linkevicius, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Lithuania
- Klaus Linsenmeier, Executive Director, Heinrich Böll Foundation - North America
- Natalia Loukacheva, First Visiting Nansen Professor of Arctic Studies, University of Akureyri
- Jawed Ludin, Former Deputy Foreign Minister, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
- Gal Luft, Co-Director, Institute for the Analysis of Global Security
- Brian Macdonald, Legislative Secretary for Military Affairs, Government of New Brunswick
- John MacDonell, Partner, Stewart McKelvey
- Geoffrey Machum, Chair, Board of Directors, Halifax Port Authority
- Peter MacKay, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Ministry of Justice, Canada
- Macha MacKay, Member, Canadian Network to Abolish Nuclear Weapons
- Mona Makram-Ebeid, Member of Advisory Council, Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, Egypt
- Peter Mansbridge, Chief Correspondent and Anchor of The National, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
- Anja Manuel, Principal, RiceHadleyGates LLC
- Mikk Marran, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defense, Estonian Ministry of Defense
- Vivek Maru, Chief Executive Officer, Namati Innovations in Legal Empowerment
- Bill McCaffrey, President and Chief Executive Officer, MEG Energy Corporation
- John McCain, Senator, United States
- Audrey McLaughlin, Election Observer, National Democratic Institute
- Membathisi Mdladlana, High Commissioner to Canada, South African High Commission
- David Merkel, Senior Fellow, John Hopkins Center for Transatlantic Relations
- Imad Mesdoua, Political Analyst, Pasco Risk Management
- Jeanne Meserve, Senior Fellow, George Washington University Homeland Security Policy Institute
- Ayman Mhanna, Executive Director, Samir Kassir Foundation
- Vladimir Milov, President, Institute of Energy Policy
- Don Moe, Vice President, Supply and Marketing, MEG Energy Corporation
- Duane Monea, Vice President, Public Relations, MEG Energy Corporation
- Heba Morayef, Egypt Director, Middle East and North Africa Division, Human Rights Watch
- Pedro Morenés, Minister of Defense, Ministry of Defense, Spain
- Mouaz Moustafa, Executive Director, The Syrian Emergency Task Force
- John Mueller, Woody Hayes Chair Emeritus of National Security Studies, Mershon Center of Political Science
- Yusuf Muftuoglu, Advisor to the President, Republic of Turkey
- Jeff Mullen, Director of Enterprise Development, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
- Maureen Murphy, Chief of Staff to the Minister of National Defence, Department of National Defence, Canada
- Andrew Murrison, Minister for International Security Strategy, Ministry of Defence, United Kingdom
- Walter Natynczyk, President, Canadian Space Agency
- Mary Naylor, Legislative Director, Senator Tim Kaine
- Pauline Neville-Jones, Special Representative to Business on Cybersecurity, House of Lords, United Kingdom
- John Newton, Commander, Maritime Forces Atlantic and Joint Task Force Atlantic
- Robert Nicholson, Minister of National Defence, Department of National Defence, Canada
- Masashi Nishihara, President, Research Institute for Peace and Security
- Mark Norman, Commander, Royal Canadian Navy
- Elizabeth O'Bagy, Foreign Policy Advisor, Senator John McCain
- Jacqueline O'Neill, Director, The Institute for Inclusive Security
- Dixon Osburn, Director, Law and Security Program, Human Rights First
- Mashbat Otgonbayar, Strategic Policy Advisor to the Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mongolia
- Timothy Page, President, Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries
- Jean-Paul Paloméros, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, North Atlantic Treaty Organization
- Roland Paris, Director, Centre for International Policy Studies, University of Ottawa
- Sameer Patil, Associate Fellow in National Security, Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations
- Benjamin Pauker, Managing Editor, Foreign Policy
- Fredric Pesme, Executive Assistant to the Commander Allied Command Transformation, North Atlantic Treaty Organization
- Nikola Poposki, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Macedonia
- Fabrice Pothier, Head of Policy Planning for the Office of the Secretary General, North Atlantic Treaty Organization
- Esa Pulkkinen, Director General, Defense Policy Department, Ministry of Defense, Finland
- Diana Quintero Cuello, Deputy Minister of Defense for Strategy and Planning
Ministry of Defense, Columbia
- Bob Rae, Mediator, former Premier of Ontario and federal Liberal leader
- Celina Realuyo, Assistant Professor of National Security Affairs, William J. Perry Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies, National Defense University
- Edward Rees, Senior Adviser, Building Markets
- Daniel Restrepo, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress
- Stephen Rigby, National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister, Privy Council Office
- Richard Riley, Consul General, US Consulate General, Halifax
- Sheila Riordon, Minister (Political), Embassy of Canada, Washington
- Julia Rivard, Senior Partner, Norex
- Carla Robbins, Adjunct Senior Fellow, Council on Foreign Relations
- Colin Robertson, Vice President, Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute
- Genaro Robles Casillas, Defense Attaché, Embassy of Mexico, Canada
- Joshua Rogin, Senior Correspondent, Newsweek Daily Beast
- Rafal Rohozinski, Principal and CEO, The SecDev Group
- Gideon Rose, Editor, Foreign Affairs
- Kevin Rudd, Member of Parliament, Commonwealth of Australia
- Daniel Runde, Director, Project on Prosperity and Development, Center for Strategic and International Studies
- Laurent Ruseckas, Senior Advisor, IHS
- Tom Ruth, President and Chief Executive Officer, Halifax International Airport Authority
- George Sabra, President, Syrian National Council
- Baba Salah, Singer and Guitarist
- Sana Saleem, Activist Blogger, The Guardian
- Paul Salem, Vice President, Arab Transitions Initiative, Middle East Institute
- Mike Savage, Mayor, Halifax Regional Municipality
- Bente Scheller, Director, Middle East Office Beirut
Heinrich Böll Stiftung
- Randy Scheunemann, President, Orion Strategies, Peter Semneby, Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Sweden
- Michael Semple, Visiting Professor, Institute for Study of Conflict Transformation and Social Justice, Queen's University Belfast
- Richard Sendall, Senior Vice President, Strategy and Government Relations, MEG Energy Corporation
- Baek Seung Joo, Vice Minister of National Defense, Ministry of National Defense, Republic of Korea
- Jacob Shavit, CEO, Discovery Air
- Robin Shepherd, Director, International Affairs, Henry Jackson Society
- Makita Shimokawa, Deputy Director-General, the Asian and Oceania Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan
- Newton Shortliffe, Acting Director General, Intelligence Assessments, Canadian Security Intelligence Service
- Mohammed Shtayyeh, Minister, Palestinian Economic Council for Development and Reconstruction
- Vasil Sikharulidze, Chairman, Atlantic Council of Georgia
- Donald Sinclair, Director General, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
- Jill Sinclair, Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy, Department of National Defence, Canada
- Randa Slim, Research Fellow, National Security Studies Program, The New America Foundation
- Vaclav Smil, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of Manitoba
- Milan Solßr, Deputy Secretary General/Program Director, Slovak Atlantic Commission
- Nancy Southern, Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer, ATCO Ltd.
- Janice Stein, Director, Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto
- Edison Stewart, Assistant Deputy Minister, Public Affairs, Department of National Defence, Canada
- Karen Stewart, Political Advisor to SACT, Allied Command Transformation
- Yohanes Sulaiman, Lecturer, Indonesian National Defense University
- Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Iceland
- Jane Taber, Atlantic Bureau Chief, The Globe and Mail
- Andrew Tabler, Senior Fellow, Washington Institute for Near East Policy
- Jonathan Tepperman, Managing Editor, Foreign Affairs
- Sue Mi Terry, Senior Research Scholar, Weatherhead East Asian Institute, Columbia University
- Ljuben Tevdovski, Ambassador of Macedonia to Canada, Embassy of Macedonia in Canada
- Eneken Tikk-Ringas, Senior Fellow for Cyber Security, International Institute for Strategic Studies
Middle East Office
- Alioune Tine, Chairman, Human Rights Commission, Senegal
- Ekaterine Tkeshelashvili, President, Georgian Institute for Strategic Studies
- Kenneth Tovo, Deputy Commander, US Southern Command
- Peter Van Praagh, President, Halifax International Security Forum
- Robert Vass, Secretary General, Slovak Atlantic Commission
- Hubert Védrine, President, Francois Mitterrand Institute
- Garry Venman, Vice President, Business Development and Government Relations, Discovery Air Defence Services
- Nirmal Kumar Verma, High Commissioner of India to Canada, High Commission of India, Ottawa
- Alexander Vershbow, Deputy Secretary General, North Atlantic Treaty Organization
- Cindy Vestergaard, Senior Researcher, Danish Institute for International Studies
- John Vinocur, Former Executive Editor, International Herald Tribune
- Kurt Volker, Executive Director, McCain Institute
- Christoph von Marschall, Chief Diplomatic Correspondent, Der Tagesspiegel
- Alexandre Vulic, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of France in Canada
- Nicolai Wammen, Minister of Defense, Ministry of Defense, Denmark
- W. Bruce Weinrod, Senior Advisor, Global Impact Inc.
- Jonathan Weisstub, Chairman of the Board, Halifax International Security Forum
- Jim Wellons, Executive Officer to the Commander United States Southern Command
- Michael Werz, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress
- Marc Whittingham, President & CEO, Canadian Commercial Corporation
- Alexis Wichowski, Media Analyst, United States Mission to the United Nations, US Department of State
- Einat Wilf, Senior Fellow, The Jewish People Policy Institute
- Taylor Wilson, Nuclear Physicist, University of Nevada, Reno
- Werner Wnendt, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Federal Foreign Office
- Peter Wright, Development Officer, ACOA
- Harry Wu, Founder and Executive Director, Laogai Research Foundation
- Moshe Ya'alon, Minister of Defense, Ministry of Defense, Israel
- Hasan Kemal Yardimci, Deputy Minister of National Defense, Ministry of Defense, Republic of Turkey
- Chris Yonke, Owner, International Options and Trade
- Dov Zakheim, Senior Fellow, Center for Naval Analyses
- Wendy Zatylny, President Association of Canadian Port Authorities
- Philippe Zeller, Ambassador of France to Canada, Embassy of France in Canada

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