HALIFAX — Less than two weeks after Republican Donald Trump's stunning electoral victory, the Democratic contender for U.S. vice-president, Tim Kaine, is scheduled to attend an international foreign affairs and defence conference in Halifax.
Kaine, a U.S. senator from Virginia, is among a list of high-profile political and military leaders expected to join the weekend meeting, which will include U.K. Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, U.S. Deputy Defence Secretary Robert Work and France's defence minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian.
Fallon will speak about Britain's place in the world after Brexit, and Le Drian will speak about combating terror.
Hosted by Canadian Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, the annual three-day Halifax International Security Forum bills itself as a gathering of democratic leaders committed to global security and prosperity.
"This is the only international meeting in the world where top government leaders and military officials come together from democracies to enhance co-operation on global issues," said Peter Van Praagh, president of the forum. "It gives people an opportunity to understand what other countries are thinking and it is also a great opportunity to build relationships."
Kaine's anticipated visit will mark the senator's fourth appearance at the forum. Over the past three years, Kaine and Sen. John McCain, a former Republican presidential nominee, have led a congressional delegation to Halifax.
Kaine is expected to receive a "builders" award at a gala on Friday before leaving early Saturday.
The senator made headlines earlier this week when asked about Trump's decision to hire Stephen Bannon as his top strategist, despite a chorus of allegations that he is racist, sexist and anti-Semitic.
"The Bannon appointment deeply concerns me," Kaine told NBC News. "Putting someone in with a history of connection with white nationalism and anti-Semitism ... I'm disturbed. But for anybody who has followed the campaign, (you) can't be surprised at it. This is not an aberration. This is part of who Donald Trump is and who his supporters are."
Van Praagh said this weekend's meeting will likely focus on how democracies are having to contend with a higher level of discontent from their citizens.
He cited Trump's Nov. 8 election victory, the surprising vote by Britain in June to leave the European Union, and the equally unexpected decision by voters in Colombia to reject a peace deal to end decades of conflict with the rebel group FARC.
"Democracies have to have a conversation about themselves," Van Praagh said. "We really have to come to terms with why people seem dissatisfied with some institutions ... That conversation can only happen among democracies who want to come up with constructive solutions."
Van Praagh said scores of political and military leaders have come to appreciate the informal, laid-back style that the forum offers.
"A lot of that is because of Halifax ... I go to a lot of meetings around the world, and this relaxed atmosphere leads to constructive dialogue. It really doesn't happen anywhere else in the world."
More than 300 delegates from 60 countries are expected to attend, with participants including policy-makers, security analysts, diplomats, business leaders and journalists. The forum, supported by the Canadian government, is a non-profit, non-partisan organization based in Washington, D.C.
Also on the agenda are: Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic; Ukraine's deputy prime minister, Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze; retired U.S. general John Allen, former head of the global coalition to defeat ISIS; and Omer Celik, Turkey’s minister for European Union affairs. Celik is scheduled to speak about Turkey after a failed coup attempt in July.
Rose Gottemoeller, NATO's deputy secretary general, is expected to speak about the challenges posed by Russia.
