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2020 Halifax International Security Forum

2020 Halifax International Security Forum

Date
November 20-22, 2020
Location
Hybrid
Participants
300

Agenda & Speakers

Friday, November 20
Saturday, November 21
Sunday, November 22

8:00 EST

Informal Sessions via Zoom Off the record

 

Biden: His Time

  • WITH: Jürgen Hardt, Foreign Policy Spokesperson, CDU/CSU Parliamentarian Group; Dov Zakheim, Senior Advisor, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Senior Fellow, CNA Corporation
  • HOSTED BY: Luis Rubio, Chairman, Mexican Council on Foreign Relations, Mexico Evalua

 

Post-Pandemic Precipice

  • WITH: Jaushieh Joseph Wu, Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Taiwan; Kamran Khan, Founder and CEO, BlueDot; Takeshi Akahori, Ambassador, UN Affairs, Cyber Policy, Foreign Policy Bureau
  • HOSTED BY: Rachel Kleinfeld, Senior Fellow, Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

 

Racial Justice: When? 

  • WITH: Bishop Garrison, Co-Founder and President, Rainey Center and Director, National Security Outreach, Human Rights First; Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, Consultant, Abercrombie-Winstanley Consulting, LLC; Michael Svetlik, Vice President, Programs, International Foundation for Electoral Systems
  • HOSTED BY: Heather Hurlburt, Director, New Models of Policy Change, New America

 

Steal IP: Get Rich Quick

  • WITH: Audrey Tang, Minister Without Portfolio, Government of Taiwan; Michael Rogers, CEO, The MSRogers Group LLC; Tolu Ogunlesi, Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria on Digital and New Media, Government of Nigeria; Ulf Gartzke, Managing Partner, Spitzberg Partners LLC
  • HOSTED BY: Randy Scheunemann, Senior Counselor, Halifax International Security Forum and Vice Chairman, International Republican Institute

 

TikTok, Tick Tock: Globalization Times Out

  • WITH: Roderich Kiesewetter, Member, Bundestag; Pauline Neville-Jones, Member, Patron, House of Lords, Cyber Security Challenge
  • HOSTED BY: Dean Fealk, Managing Partner, DLA Piper

 

Worthless Advice: The End Of Experts

  • WITH: Rocky Meade, Chief of Defense, Jamaica; Darrell Bricker, CEO, IPSOS Public Affairs
  • HOSTED BY: Ian Brodie, Associate Professor, Fellow, University of Calgary; Canadian Global Affairs Institute

10:00 EST

Plenary 7: 75 Years On: Re-Making The Democratic World Order On the record

Speakers

Security Analyst, Canada's CTV News, Member, Homeland Security Experts Group, and Member, Transatlantic Commission on Election Integrity
Moderator
Jeanne Meserve

Jeanne Meserve

Jeanne Meserve is a security analyst for Canada’s CTV News, and a member of the Homeland Security Experts Group and the Transatlantic Commission on Election Integrity. She moderates on a wide array of topics for groups including the Munich Security Conference, AtlanticLIVE, and the International Women’s Forum.  She speaks on communication, media and election security, and has provided communication coaching to leaders of corporations, educational institutions, non-profit organizations and government. As an anchor and correspondent for CNN and ABC News Jeanne Meserve won two Emmy Awards, an Edward R. Murrow Award, and contributed to two Peabody Awards.  She is a member of the board of the non-profit Space Foundation.

 

Minister of Defence, North Macedonia
Radmila Shekerinska

Radmila Shekerinska

Radmila Shekerinska is serving her second mandate as Minister of Defence of the Republic of North Macedonia. During her first mandate, North Macedonia has become the 30th member of NATO, thus fulfilling one of the country’s strategic goals.

Previously, Shekerinska was the Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European integration and foreign aid coordination. It was during her tenure that the country was granted the status of a candidate country for accession to the European Union.

Shekerinska was a Member of the Parliament during four terms, presiding over the National Council for European Integration, since its establishment.

Shekerinska was decorated with the Order “Commander of the National Order for Merit of France” in 2018 for outstanding civic merit. In 2005, Shekerinska was awarded with the title – Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum for her achievements and dedication in the field of European integration of the Western Balkans.

Radmila Shekerinska is a member of the Munich Young Leaders Group.

She has led two OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission for the elections in the Kyrgyz Republic and Armenia.

Radmila Shekerinska is still the only woman in North Macedonia who has held the position of Minister of Defence and also the only woman to head any of the major political parties in the country (being the President of the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia from 2006 to 2008).

Shekerinska was born on 10 June,1972 in Skopje. She graduated at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering in Skopje and received her MA in International Relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, USA.

She speaks English and French.

Payson J. Treat Distinguished Research Fellow in Contemporary Asia, Hoover Institute, Stanford University
Michael Auslin

Michael Auslin

Michael Auslin is the Payson J. Treat Distinguished Research Fellow in Contemporary Asia at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, and is the Senior Advisor for Asia at HFX. His latest book is Asia’s New Geopolitics: Essays on Reshaping the Indo-Pacific. He also is the author of the best-selling The End of the Asian Century:  War, Stagnation, and the Risks to the World’s Most Dynamic Region, among other books, and writes regularly in leading media outlets. Previously, Dr. Auslin was an associate professor of history at Yale University and a visiting professor at the University of Tokyo.  He is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, a senior fellow at Policy Exchange (UK), and a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. Among other honors, Dr. Auslin has been named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, a Fulbright Scholar, and a Marshall Memorial Fellow by the German Marshall Fund, and he serves on the board of the Wilton Park USA Foundation.

United States Permanent Representative, United States Mission to NATO
Kay Bailey Hutchinson

Kay Bailey Hutchinson

Ambassador Kay Bailey Hutchison was sworn in as the Permanent Representative of the United States to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on August 15, 2017. From 1993-2013, she served as a U.S. Senator from Texas and was also elected to a Senate leadership position. Ambassador Hutchison gained extensive international experience and developed a deep understanding of NATO as a Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. She also served as Chairman of the Military Construction Subcommittee and as a Member of the Defense Subcommittee on the Senate Appropriations Committee. She served two terms as Chairman of the Board of Visitors of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Seventy-five years after the end of the Second World War, what is the role of NATO in the 21st century? Does it still have an important place on the world stage? Our panelists think so. North Macedonian Minister of Defense Radmila Shekerinska stated there is value in sharing an alliance, even with countries you are sometimes in disagreement with. U.S. Ambassador to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchinson believes that the very power of NATO lies in the ability of democratic countries to work together and support one another. There is value in using dialogue to overcome fundamental differences, General Rajmund Andrzejczak added, and NATO provides a vital forum for multilateralism amongst democratic countries.

But there are cracks in the alliance, and Michael Auslin believes that China sees an opportunity because of it. Secretary General Jens Stoltenburg stated emphatically that NATO, as a regional alliance, needs a more global approach to global challenges like space, cybersecurity and space. In the face of Russian aggression, former President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko felt there needs to be a higher price to pay for threatening behaviour on the world stage.

The NATO alliance has been shaken in recent years and will continue to be tested in an uncertain world. NATO allies must remain committed to the hard work of complex dialogue if the alliance is to live up to its full potential.

“We need a stable region, we need prosperity, we need cooperation for our people, and this can be achieved by working with NATO.” 

— Radmila Shekerinska, Minister of Defence of the Republic of North Macedonia

“With such fundamental differences, we need more discussion to understand each other.”

— General Rajmund Andrzejczak, Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces.

“The China report lays out very clearly in economic, political, and security terms the ways that Beijing has abused the open international system that we invited them into in order to get unfair advantage.” 

— Michael Auslin, Payson J. Treat Distinguished Research Fellow in Contemporary Asia at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University

“We act by consensus, which means that there is a lot of give and take to maintain unity.” 

— Ambassador Kay Bailey Hutchinson, United States Permanent Representative to NATO

“China is not an enemy, but the rise of China has implications for NATO and NATO members. There are both opportunities and challenges.” 

— Jens Stoltenberg, Secretary General of NATO 

“Russia is a source of instability and danger. The price of aggression should increase every year.” 

— Petro Poroshenko, 5th President of Ukraine

11:00 EST

Plenary 8: After 2020: The World With America On the record

Speakers

Host, The West Block, Global News
Moderator
Mercedes Stephenson

Mercedes Stephenson

Mercedes Stephenson is Global News’ Ottawa Bureau Chief and the host of the network’s flagship national political affairs program The West Block. Leading Global News’ coverage from the nation’s capital, Stephenson interviews the biggest names in Canadian and international politics. Stephenson has covered major political and leadership conventions and scandals, provided her expertise from around the world while reporting from locales such as Latvia, France, Washington – travelling with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on his inaugural visit to the Trump White House, Afghanistan and Niger – where she was the first television reporter ever embedded with the Canadian Special Operations Forces. Stephenson holds a master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the University of Calgary where her thesis focused on information operations in Afghanistan. She also studied political journalism at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., interned at the Pentagon and studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Center for International Studies.

Chief of Defence, Netherlands Armed Forces
Rob Bauer

Rob Bauer

Admiral Rob Bauer is the Netherlands Chief of Defense. Admiral Bauer joined the Royal Netherlands Navy via the Royal Naval College and was commissioned as a naval officer in 1984. During the first twenty years of service, he held numerous operational positions at sea. In 2011, Bauer was appointed as Deputy Director of Plans for Operational Policy and Innovation. He was then promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral and appointed Director of Plans for the Armed Forces, including the newly formed Defence Cyber Command. Over the following three years, he was also a member of the Council for Defence Research and Development, the National Council for Cyber Security and the Netherlands Coast Guard Council. In 2015, Bauer was appointed as Vice Chief of Defence. He is the Chairman of the Defence Business Platform. Since early 2017, Bauer has also been Chairman of the Adaptive Armed Forces Steering Committee.

Executive Director, The McCain Institute for International Leadership
Mark Green

Mark Green

Ambassador Mark Green (ret.) serves as the executive director of the McCain Institute for International Leadership, an action-oriented policy institution dedicated to advancing character-driven leadership based on security, economic opportunity, freedom and human dignity. Prior to joining the McCain Institute, Green served as administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Prior to USAID, he served as president of the International Republican Institute, president and chief executive officer of the Initiative for Global Development, and senior director at the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. Green served as the U.S. ambassador to Tanzania from mid-2007 to early 2009. Before that, he served four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives representing Wisconsin’s 8th District. Green was the longest-serving member of the board of directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation. He has also served on the Human Freedom Advisory Council for the Bush Institute and the Board of the Consensus for Development Reform. He holds a law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire. In 2012, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science from Georgetown University’s School of Nursing and Health Studies. In 2014, President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania presented him with a special Presidential Certificate of Recognition and Appreciation.

Deputy Prime Minister, Ukraine
Olha Stefanishyna

Olha Stefanishyna

Olha Stefanishyna is a Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine since June 2020. 

In the Government, Olha Stefanishyna is in charge of Ukraine’s integration to the EU and NATO, as well as implementation of the SDGs in Ukraine with special focus on gender equality. 

Upon her appointment, she has initiated an update of the Association Agreement in order to boost trade between the EU and Ukraine and enhancement of  transborder cooperation. The second part of DPM Stefanishyna portfolio is to ensure all-government coordination  of Ukraine-NATO cooperation and increase the military interoperability between Ukraine and NATO Allies military forces.

DPM Stefanishyna has over 13 years of experience in the field of International and European Law. She used to work in the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, served as a Director-General in the Government Office for Coordination of  European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, and used to have a private legal practice. Olha has a Master’s Degree in International law and a Diploma in economics, studied  at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, and at the Estonian School of Diplomacy.

She is well known in the professional circles as one of the most qualified “euro-integrators” of Ukraine.

After four years of “America First” under President Trump, will the Biden administration be able to restore American leadership in the world? How can America and its allies work to uphold the rules-based international order during these turbulent times? Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna believes that the Biden administration will be most effective in support of the trans-atlantic Alliance. Gen (Ret.) John Allen expects the new President-elect to articulate a strong commitment to international human rights.

Meanwhile, Admiral Rob Bauer hopes the Biden administration understands the power of strong alliances and the importance of ensuring predictability on the world stage. Mark Green and Senator Tim Kaine think that the U.S. will recommit to alliances moving forward in order to address global challenges, including from climate change to great power tensions. Turkish Minister of Defense Hulusi Akar represents a country that hopes to benefit from a return to stable dialogue and international engagement.

While Joe Biden’s move to the White House may restore hope to many American allies, he will confront a tense global security environment and numerous questions about his country’s role in the world. Biden will have to work hard to re-establish America’s place in international diplomacy and to re-assert leadership on the world stage.

“The Trump administration has been a rude awakening. Moving forward we should make sure we can stand on our own two feet.” 

— Admiral Rob Bauer, Chief of Defence, Netherlands Armed Forces

“I remain optimistic because of the strength of the NATO alliance and the resolve of those gathered here today.”

— Mark Green, Executive Director, McCain Institute for International Leadership

“Let’s not forget that we have worked closely together, shoulder to shoulder with our allies.” 

— Hulusi Akar, Minister of Defense, Republic of Turkey

“Ukraine has the primary interest in fighting against Russian aggression on a daily basis and standing up for democracy.” 

— Olha Stefanishyna, Deputy Prime Minister, Ukraine

“Over the last four years, the US has walked away from many of its traditional leadership roles in the world.” 

— John Allen, President, The Brookings Institution

“The big challenges of the 21st century, like climate change, mass migration, and COVID-19 know no borders.” 

— Senator Tim Kaine, Senator from Virginia, United States Senate

Featured Speakers On the record

Speakers

Secretary General, North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Jens Stoltenberg

Jens Stoltenberg

Jens Stoltenberg is the Secretary General of NATO. While Mr. Stoltenberg was Prime Minister, Norway’s defence spending increased steadily, with the result that Norway is today one of the Allies with the highest per capita defence expenditure. Mr. Stoltenberg has also been instrumental in transforming the Norwegian armed forces, through a strong focus on deployable high-end capabilities. Under his leadership, the Norwegian Government has contributed Norwegian forces to various NATO operations. During his tenure as Prime Minister, Mr. Stoltenberg frequently called for NATO to focus on security challenges close to Allied territory. Mr. Stoltenberg is a strong supporter of enhanced transatlantic cooperation, including better burden-sharing across the Atlantic. He sees NATO and the EU as complementary organisations in terms of securing peace and development in Europe and beyond. Mr. Stoltenberg has had a number of international assignments. These include chairing the UN High-level Panel on System-wide Coherence and the High-level Advisory Group on Climate Change Financing. He was also UN Special Envoy on Climate Change.

Minister of National Defense, Ministry of National Defense
Hulusi Akar

Hulusi Akar

Minister Hulusi Akar is the Minister of National Defense for Turkey and has actively served in the Turkish Armed Forces for a total of 49 years. During his military career as an officer, he served as the command of Turkish Task Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1997-1998). As a flag officer, he commanded the Internal Security Brigade in Tunceli/Hozat (1998-2000), the Military Academy (2002-2005), the Army Command and Staff College (2005-2007), the Land Forces Logistics Command (2007-2009) and the 3rd Turkish Corps-NRDC-T (2009-2011). Following his promotion to the rank of General in 2011, he served as the Deputy Chief of Turkish General Staff between 2011-2013, as the Land Forces Commander between 2013-2015 and finally as the Commander of the Turkish Armed Forces between 2015-2018. Hulusi Akar was awarded with the Turkish Armed Forces Courage and Self-Sacrifice Medal by Turkish General Staff due to his outstanding achievements in Internal Security Operations, Distinguished Service Medal and Medal of Honor.

Chief of the General Staff, Polish Armed Forces
Rajmund Andrzejczak

Rajmund Andrzejczak

General Rajmund Andrzejczak is Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces. He has served in leadership roles throughout his military service, including the chief of the Operations Branch in Iraq and the Commander of Polish Task Force/Polish Military Contingent in Afghanistan. In 2008-2010 he served as the deputy commander of the 34th Armored Cavalry Brigade in Żagań. During the years 2010-2012 he served in the 2nd Mechanized Corps in Cracow. In 2012 he took command of the 17th Mechanized Brigade in Międzyrzecz. From December 8, 2014, he was Deputy Commander-Chief of Staff of the 12th Mechanized Division, and from May 2, 2016, he was appointed Commander of the 12th Division. He was awarded the Order of the Second Class Military Cross-Commander’s Cross, Star of Iraq and Afghanistan. On July 2, 2018, he was appointed as Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces and promoted him to the rank of Lieutenant General.

5th President, Government of Ukraine
Petro Poroshenko

Petro Poroshenko

President Petro Poroshenko was the 5th President of Ukraine (2014-2019) and Chairman of “European Solidarity” Political Party. In 1998, he started his political career as Member of Parliament of Ukraine. In 2000, he became Deputy Head of National Bank Council of Ukraine. In 2005, Petro Poroshenko served as Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council. In 2006, he won elections and returned to Parliament. In 2009, he became Minister of Foreign Affairs and in 2012 – Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine. In May 2014, Petro Poroshenko won early elections and became the 5th President of Ukraine. Conclusion and entry into force of Ukraine-EU Association Agreement, visa-free regime between EU and Ukraine, new modernized NATO-standard Ukrainian Armed Forces, international unity and solidarity against Russian aggression are among major achievements of Poroshenko’s presidency. It is recognized that under Poroshenko’s leadership Ukraine carried out more reforms than for all years of independence.

Clippings

Reuters
Coons says hopes for bipartisan U.S. policy to 'out-compete' China
Humeyra Pamuk

“I see clearly that China is a peer competitor. And we have to be able at the same time, to cooperate with China in those areas where it’s essential,” Coons said in an interview before speaking at the Halifax International Security Forum. “There’s a whole series of areas where the world is only going to get safer and more stable if the United States and China cooperate, but our main focus has to be competing with China,” he said.

Global News
The West Block: Interview with Chris Coons
Mercedes Stephenson

Senator Chris Coons joined Mercedes Stephenson and The West Block during the Halifax International Security Forum to discuss foreign policy, Canada-US relations, and the priorities for incoming President Joe Biden.

Global Translations
POLITICO
Ryan Heath

There’s been a deluge of China analysis this week. A report from the Halifax International Security Forum, which convenes Nov. 20 to 22, entitled “China vs. Democracy,” is the best of the bunch. The Forum team led by Peter Van Praagh does not mince words: They argue that China is on a trajectory to deliver “an even more complete form of totalitarianism than Stalin could have dreamed of,” and that Chinese companies must now be treated as guilty until proven innocent when it comes to their links to the Chinese state. Other reports from the State Department and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Republican majority agree that the U.S., EU and other democracies cannot cut China off — too many of the solutions to global challenges depend on China’s participation — yet individual democracies will fail to outmaneuver China by operating alone.

National Defense
HALIFAX FORUM NEWS: Space Force Chief Pushes Back on Calls for Elimination of Service
Yasmin Tadjdeh

Raymond said the Space Force plays a key role in deterring aggressive actions from adversaries in space, including China which is making strides in its space-based capabilities, he noted during the Halifax International Security Forum, which is being hosted both in person in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and virtually due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Anadolu Agency
'Turkey maintains ties with West without ignoring East'
Zeynep Rakipoglu and Berk Ozkan and Elif Kucuk

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday that Turkey has maintained robust relations with the West without ignoring the East. “We cannot afford to turn our back on either the East or the West. While developing our relations with Europe, we never ignore Asia and Africa,” Erdogan said, attending an event organized by the Washington-based Halifax International Security Forum via video link. “It is not only wrong but also impossible to confine Turkey, which is geographically an African-Eurasian country within a narrow framework concerning diplomacy,” Erdogan added, according to a statement from the Turkish Presidency.

Voice of America
Pompeo, Stoltenberg Talk China at Halifax Security Forum
Jay Heisler

Founded 12 years ago, the forum is an opportunity to network and build relationships, its founder says.  “Our mission as an organization is to enhance strategic cooperation among the world’s democracies,” Peter Van Praagh, the forum’s founder and president, told VOA. Van Praagh says the forum brings together leaders “to really tackle the world’s toughest challenges.” Some participants said the forum was a success this year despite the obstacles posed by the pandemic.

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