The Annual Halifax International Security Forum Kicks Off

The 13th annual Halifax International Security Forum (HISF), which takes place from November 19-21 in Canada, has kicked off yesterday. The forum brings together defense and security experts, academics, and leaders from around the world. The top of which included Deputy Minister of the Department of National Defence, Jody Thomas and Acting Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Wayne Eyre, along with NATO officials. During which, the Vice President at Halifax International Security Forum- Robin Shepherd indicated that the forum, which will include panels, closed-door discussions, was marked with a high attendance of about 300 participants from 70 countries. He illustrated that the forum will address security issues related to China, climate change, and Afghanistan. Furthermore, he underscored the necessity of discussing the unfolding event; the fall of Kabul, and other regional and local developments, along with women’s rights The first session was entitled “After the Fall – US leadership in the world after the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban. The forum also addressed the future of strategies for the global democracy agenda. It is worth mentioning that the panel was attended by U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.); Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, former president of the Republic of Croatia; Sabrina Saqeb, a former member of parliament, Afghanistan; and Janice Stein, founding director, Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto. Richard Clarke, US Commander of Special Operations, pointed out that upon US withdrawal from Afghanistan, US special forces were deployed in many states around the world to carry out military operations and for training and advisory matters.