SHAHEEN ATTENDS INTERNATIONAL SECURITY FORUM, DISCUSSES GLOBAL CHALLENGES WITH WORLD LEADERS IN HALIFAX
(Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen joined a bipartisan Congressional delegation led by Senator John McCain (R-AZ) at the Halifax International Security Forum over the weekend in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Shaheen, the Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs, discussed a wide range of global security issues with defense ministers, diplomats, and academics from across the globe. She also led a public panel on nuclear proliferation and hosted a roundtable discussion on energy and the economy with Canadian business leaders.
"Our nation faces a host of complex national security challenges - from fostering a sustainable economic recovery to a war in Afghanistan to the dangers of nuclear terrorism," said Shaheen. "The Halifax Forum is an opportunity to discuss constructive solutions to our most pressing global problems. I was pleased to join a bipartisan group of my colleagues as we work with our allies and partners around the globe to confront these dangerous security threats."
At the forum, Senator Shaheen led a public panel on the dangers of nuclear proliferation and the threat posed by a nuclear Iran. Shaheen urged the international community to maintain a united front in pressuring Iran to give up its nuclear ambitions and called on the U.S. Senate to ratify the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with Russia.
"Terrorists and rogue nations around the world are determined to obtain nuclear weapons," said Shaheen. "We must do what we can to avert this nuclear nightmare and curb the threat of nuclear materials falling into the wrong hands."
In addition to the security forum events, the Canadian American Business Council hosted Shaheen for a roundtable discussion on energy and the economy with some of eastern Canada's top energy business executives. The conversation centered on energy challenges and opportunities in the northeast, the role of renewable energy, and the future of clean energy research and development.
"New Hampshire has a long history of working with our Canadian neighbors on a variety of issues," said Shaheen. "Building a clean energy economy should be no exception."
The delegation of Senators - including Senators John McCain (R-AZ), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Mark Udall (D-CO), Jeff Sessions (R-AL), and Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) - were originally unable to land in Halifax due to poor weather conditions and were diverted to Bangor, Maine. During their unexpected stay in Bangor, the delegation learned of two plane loads of troops - one headed to Iraq, one to Afghanistan - that were passing through Bangor International Airport. The Senators joined Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano (also diverted on her way to Halifax for the Forum) and Maine Senator Susan Collins (a resident of Bangor) to thank the troops for their service and salute them as they departed.
The Halifax International Security Forum, hosted by the German Marshall Fund in cooperation with the Government of Canada, is the first major international conference on regional and global security held in North America. Over two days, global leaders in politics, government, business, academia, and media participate in an interactive debate and intellectual exchange on pressing strategic issues. The forum participants focus on a variety of policy areas, including Afghanistan, Iran, climate change, maritime security, and nuclear non-proliferation.
