On April 3, the NATO Association of Canada and the Canadian International Council (CIC), National Capital Branch together hosted “Building a More Secure Indo-Pacific: Canada and Japan,” a virtual discussion between H.E. Kanji Yamanouchi, Japanese Ambassador to Canada, and the Hon. Robert Oliphant, M.P. and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Valerie Keyes, president and CEO, GTM Leadership Matters, served as moderator.
The discussion, which included introductory remarks from the Parliamentary Secretary and Ambassador, touched on topics like AUKUS, Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, “Canada-Japan 6 Shared Priorities,” and relations between Russia and China.
The event highlighted a bilateral relationship of concern to the NATO Association of Canada and NATO. “We were interested in having a conversation about how Canada could help make our Indo-Pacific partners more secure in order to ensure peace and maintenance of the rules-based international order in the Pacific,” noted Robert Baines, president and CEO of the NATO Association of Canada. “While NATO may not have a specific mandate to support the peace of our partners in the Indo-Pacific, Canada and our allies have an interest in maintaining peace, stability, and the rule of law wherever we can across the globe.”
The NATO Association of Canada appreciated the opportunity to work with the team at the Canadian International Council, National Capital Branch, on such a significant event. “The NATO Association of Canada has had a long history of friendship and collaboration with the Canadian International Council over many decades,” Baines said.
He added: “The goals of the two organizations both align to foster discussion and understanding of Canada’s place in the world. It’s natural that we work together and it’s a pleasure to do so.”
The CIC, National Capital Branch welcomed its participation in the event as well. A statement from the CIC, National Capital Branch reads: “The Canadian International Council (CIC) National Capital Branch was extremely pleased to co-host this event with the NATO Association of Canada, because it focused on a theme not often discussed: NATO and Canada in the Indo-Pacific. Specifically, this event generated an important dialogue between Canada and Japan regarding Canada’s place in the Indo-Pacific, and shed light on (the value and challenges) of Canada’s long Pacific coast.”
The statement continues: “Facilitating these discussions, as well as educating the public on these important issues, is a critical part of the CIC’s mandate, and a role we were happy to advance in conjunction with the NATO Association. We sincerely thank and look forward to future collaborations with our valued partners at the NATO Association of Canada, and the Ambassador of Japan to Canada, the Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and their offices.”
A recording of the discussion is available on the NATO Association of Canada’s YouTube page.
