FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

>Agenda marks Donald Trump’s election victory and acknowledges that with it, uncertainty about American global priorities might emerge and appeals to the President-elect to support Ukraine against Russia’s aggression;

> Agenda to include conversations with political, military and business leaders from the United States and Canada, Europe, the Middle East, East Asia, Africa and Latin America about strategies for meeting global threats posed by the CRINKs, stressing the bond between democracy and security;

>The provocative agenda will spark conversations most needed at this exact moment, including questions for the incoming Trump administration, the need to produce more weapons faster, the quickly changing role of AI on the battlefield and the growing power of the tech broligarchs;

>HFX will again welcome its Peace With Women Fellows, senior officers from NATO and NATO partner countries and the student winners of its 15@15: Youth Building Democracy global contest.

Washington, DC – HFX President Peter Van Praagh today released the topical agenda for the 16th annual Halifax International Security Forum that will take place November 22-24 in Halifax, Canada.

“When we meet at Halifax, we can choose unity and stand together to defeat Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, leading to a new era of optimism around the world,” said Peter Van Praagh. “Or we can choose division and a dark, dangerous era of more violence and more war.  The future is up to us.”

“Putin has been waiting a long time for this US post-election environment with the hope that the election result would divide the United States from other global democracies on whether or not to continue backing Ukraine,” Van Praagh said.  “When he understands that the democracies will be steadfast in their continued support for Ukraine’s victory, Putin will be forced to reassess how many more young Russians need to die for his hopeless cause.  And the situation on the battlefield can turn to Ukraine’s favor very quickly.”

“We encourage President Trump to offer strong American support for Ukraine’s fight,” Van Praagh said, “Once complete unity on Ukraine among the allies is demonstrated, Iran and its terrorist proxies, North Korea and China will begin to moderate their aggressive actions.”

“And that new era of peace and prosperity will be great for the United States, as well as for its democratic allies,” Van Praagh said.

Plenary On-the-Record Sessions

2025: New Eras Arrive
Era of Unity: Victory in Ukraine
Era of Action: Sinking CRINK Inc
Era of Adventure: Protecting Our Arctic from Russia and China
Era of Opportunity: Immigrants Excel
Era of Integrity: AI Applications Evolve
Era of Innovation: Tomorrow’s Technologies Rebuilding Ukraine’s Grid
Era of Optimism: Now It’s Up to Us.

Informal Off-the-Record Sessions  

Ammunition Not Included: Deliver Weapons Faster
Arctic Answers
Bye, Bye Biden Blues: Ushering in a New Era for Transatlantic Relations
CRINKs:  Out of Africa
Cyber Defense, Cyber Dominance
Defending Israel’s Democracy, Zionism’s Hope
Elon Musk Has a Very Big Rocket: the Broligarchs’ Growing Influence
Disinformation Dangers: Foreign and Domestic
Fighting Fair: Protecting Human Rights During War
Going Deep: Seabed Warfare Begins
Make America Great Again, Take Two
Mexico Courts, Disaster
More Secure: When Women Lead
The Mullahs’ Last Gasp (again): Building the New US Strategy for Middle East Peace
New NATO Nimble
The Next War is Now:  Future Conflict Arrives
Old Friends, New Leaders: North American Cooperation
Peak Population: Help Wanted
Race for Resources
Ready for Take Off: Industrial Policy for the Democratic World
Russia’s Other Neighbors
T2 vs. Xi:  the New President’s Biggest Challenge
Space: Supremacy
Taiwan’s Friends: What to Do?
Urgent: Democracy Equals Security
Venezuela: CRINKs Out, Democracy In
Victory in Ukraine: For As Long As It Takes
The Will to Win Wars: Required
Winner Takes It All: the Sino-American Tech Race

The annual Halifax International Security Forum is hosted by Canada’s Minister of National Defence.  HFX receives financial support from the Government of Canada and Club HFX.

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