Canadian Forces co-hosts major military conference with U.S. in midst of trade war

Chief of the Defence Staff of Canadian Armed Forces, General Jennie Carignan will participate in the conference in B.C. Photo by HYUNGCHEOL PARK /POSTMEDIA

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The Canadian military is co-hosting a major conference with its U.S. counterparts at a time when relations with America have hit a new low.

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Chief of the Defence Staff, Gen. Jennie Carignan, and the Commander of U.S. Pacific Command, Admiral Samuel J. Paparo will preside over the conference in Victoria, B.C. starting on Aug. 31.

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A total of 32 nations have been invited to participate in the gathering which will bring together senior military leaders from across the Indo-Pacific.

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The conference comes as U.S.-Canada relations continue to worsen. U.S. President Donald Trump has hit Canada with major tariffs, prompting Prime Minister Mark Carney to respond with similar penalties on certain U.S. goods. Trump is also threatening to once again annex Canada.

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Canada walked away from trade negotiations after the U.S. made surprise demands at the last minute that would have undermined Canadian sovereignty, according to multiple news reports. “They asked too much and offered too little,” Carney told reporters.

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Trump continues to insult Canada and Canadians, claiming the country has nothing to offer the U.S. and that Canada is getting a “free ride” by having the Americans protect the country.

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U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Canada was “foolish” to get into a trade war with Trump and falsely claimed that Canada does not have a military.

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In addition, the White House posted an image on social media on Aug. 26 showing a bald eagle pinning a Canada goose, a message that suggested American dominance over Canada.

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The 28th annual Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense (CHODs) gathering will run until Sept. 2.

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The theme for the conference is “Strengthening Collective Security: Navigating Challenges in a Dynamic Indo-Pacific Landscape,” according to details provided by the Canadian Forces.

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The conference has been held annually since 1998 and allows militaries to strengthen mutual understanding, cooperation and interoperability, according to the organizers. Last year’s conference was held in Thailand.

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Security will be tight, with the news media limited to covering a joint press conference and a few panels. Most of the actual work will be done behind closed doors with meetings between the CHODs.

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China is sending more than a dozen officers with its delegation being led by Gen. Yang Zhibin, commander of its Eastern Theatre forces, according to Canadian officials.

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NATO will be represented by Adm. Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Chair of the alliance’s Military Committee.

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Although relations between Canada and the U.S. have deteriorated, senior Canadian and U.S. military officers appear to be more closely linked than ever.

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Defence Minister David McGuinty, who has been pushing for more integration between the two militaries, told journalists at the Farnborough Airshow in the United Kingdom on July 20 about the extremely close relations between Canada and the U.S. on military and intelligence affairs.