Defence Minister David J. McGuinty speaks during an announcement at the Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship in Dartmouth. Photo by TIM KROCHAK /THE CHRONICLE HERALDArticle contentAs the 17th annual Halifax International Security Forum drew to a close, the international defence community gathered in the city reflected on how dramatically the world has changed since we first came together 16 years ago.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentYet one truth remains constant: global security is rooted in partnership, not polarization.Article contentArticle contentFor 80 years, Canada and its allies have benefited from an era of unprecedented peace and prosperity, supported by a world order built in the aftermath of the Second World War. However, peace is not a one-time achievement. It is a shifting discipline sustained through shared commitment, collective responsibility and long-term collaboration. Each generation must preserve it because, if neglected, the foundation that holds it together will begin to crack.Article contentArticle contentThe global threat environment is evolving rapidly, driven by rising geopolitical instability, accelerated technological change and the impacts of climate disruption. Canada is confronting a more complex security environment, one that demands resilience, adaptability and a renewed commitment to national defence.Article contentClimate change is transforming Canada’s Arctic and northern regions at nearly four times the global average. Melting sea ice and thawing permafrost are opening new maritime routes, attracting global strategic interest and presenting direct challenges to Canada’s sovereignty, northern infrastructure and communities — particularly Indigenous peoples — who rely on the land for their culture and livelihoods.Article contentAbroad, authoritarian states and other actors are increasingly attempting to reshape the international system by undermining the rules and norms that have supported global peace and prosperity. At the same time, rapid technological innovation is accelerating the complexity of modern threats.Article contentArticle contentFrom long-range missiles and hypersonic weapons to sophisticated cyberattacks and AI-enabled capabilities, the tools of warfare and influence are more advanced, more accessible and more capable of crossing domains and borders than ever before.Article contentWe do not need to look far for evidence of these threats. For nearly four years, the world has confronted the brutal consequences of Russia’s deliberate assault on Ukrainian sovereignty. This invasion is not just a war, —it is a direct challenge to the principles upon which free and democratic nations depend. Yet Russia’s aggression is only one crack in an increasingly fragile global order.Article contentIn the Indo-Pacific, China’s coercive behaviour threatens freedom of navigation and undermines international law, while North Korea’s nuclear intimidation and its overt military support for Russia contribute to growing regional and global instability.
Opinion: Partnerships key to global security
