NEWS RELEASE

Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association attends the 23^rd Annual Parliamentary Transatlantic Forum, meets with Canada’s Ambassador to the U.S.

From 4-6 December 2023, the Chair of Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association and Head of the Delegation Julie Dzerowicz, MP, travelled to Washington D.C. to attend the 23^rd Annual Parliamentary Transatlantic Forum (the Forum) along with Senator Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu and Christine Normandin, MP. The delegates also toured the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis and learned about how the academy trains the next generation of midshipmen.

The importance of the NATO Alliance and of maintaining strong transatlantic relations among NATO members and partners was repeatedly highlighted throughout the Forum discussions. Over 100 legislators from 25 countries heard from and held discussions with U.S. administration officials, congressional representatives, academics and policy experts to develop a shared understanding of topics of interest to NATO, including:

• the war in Ukraine and its impact on Russia;

• U.S. defence and security priorities;

• the Indo-Pacific region and relations with China;

• democratic resilience;

• the current security situation in the Middle East and its impact on NATO’s Southern Flank;

• Allied defence spending and burden sharing and

• the Allied defence industrial base.

Ms. Dzerowicz, as former Vice-president of the NATO PA, joined other NATO PA leaders at a meeting with the independent group of experts appointed by the NATO Secretary General to review NATO’s relations with its southern neighbourhood, particularly the Middle East, North Africa and Sahel Regions.

The delegation also had the opportunity to meet with Kirsten Hillman, Canada’s Ambassador to the U.S. and Sara Cohen, Deputy Head of Mission for Foreign Policy and National Security in the lead-up to the Forum. They discussed Canada–US relations, military procurement, and the importance of engaging Canadians in defence matters.

-30-

To learn more, follow us on our X account:
X: @ParlDiplomacy
Hashtag: #CANA

For further information:
Hirra Majid
Constituency Assistant of Julie Dzerowicz, M.P.
437 648 0665

Céline Ethier
Association Secretary
Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association
CANA@parl.gc.ca