Canada hosts U.S., Chinese military leaders at Indo-Pacific defence forum

This week, Canadian military leaders from the United States and China are convening in Victoria, B.C. for an annual Indo-Pacific defence forum. Co-hosted by the chief of defence staff, General Jennie Carignan, and the commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, Admiral Samuel Paparo, the 28th edition of the 32-nation conference comes amid heightened tension between Canada and the United States.

These tensions stem from the collapse of negotiations toward a new trade deal earlier this month, leading Canada to impose retaliatory tariffs on American products in response to the 50% tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on billions of Canadian goods.

International affairs professor Stephen Saideman predicts that discussions among Indo-Pacific military leaders will center around the unpredictable and unreliable nature of the U.S. president and his secretary of war, Pete Hegseth. "It absolutely puts (Canada) in a difficult spot, because all our planning is premised on this relationship with the United States," Saideman stated.

The Prime Minister's decision to impose tariffs has been strongly supported by Canadians, with 63% of the population backing the move and 73% backing Ottawa's "dollar for dollar" counter-tariffs on $28 billion worth of U.S. goods.

While the U.S. Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, dismissed the notion of Canada retaliating against American military actions, he emphasized that the working relationship between American and Canadian military and intelligence agencies remains strong. At the conference, which focuses on strengthening collective security in the "dynamic" Indo-Pacific landscape, senior military leaders and non-military experts will participate in closed-door discussions.

A joint press availability with General Carignan and Admiral Paparo is scheduled for Wednesday at the conference's conclusion.