Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (us.gov.krd) - Head of the Kurdistan Regional Government Department of Foreign Relations, Minister Falah Mustafa Bakir, joined more than 300 world leaders, policymakers, security professionals, and journalists at the Halifax International Security Forum in Nova Scotia, Canada. The Halifax International Security Forum, a think tank based in Washington, DC, hosted the event in close coordination with the Canadian Defense Ministry. Minister Harjit Sajjan attended all three days of the Forum.

Held annually over three days, the Forum is one of the world’s leading gatherings of democratic leaders committed to global security and prosperity, representing more than 70 countries. Each year, the Forum addresses a range of contemporary threats, from terrorism, cyber attacks, and nuclear proliferation to human migration, natural resource protection, and economic stability. The event is an opportunity for leaders from the world’s democracies to advance greater strategic cooperation in order to address the most pressing international security challenges.

Minister Bakir spoke at an off-the-record event titled "Targeting Tomorrow's Terrorists” about the emerging threats from ISIS and other terrorist groups in Iraq. Over the three days, Minister Bakir spoke briefly with Canada’s Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan and Moldovan Defense Minister Eugen Sturza, as well as MPs from Germany and Canada, several US Senators, and other Forum participants. They discussed the security challenges facing Kurdistan, including the resurgence of ISIS, as well as the government formations in Baghdad and Erbil, and the humanitarian crisis facing 1.5 million refugees and IDPs in Kurdistan.