Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) participated this weekend in a bipartisan congressional delegation to the Halifax International Security Forum. At the forum, Senator Coons spoke at a session on foreign interference and disinformation. Senator Coons and the delegation also met with a wide range of senior leaders, including U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Estonian President Alar Karis, Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces General Rajmund Andrzejczak, Swedish Minister for Defense Pål Jonson, Canadian Minister of National Defense Anita Anand, Taiwanese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ming-Yen Tsai, Australian Director-General of the Office of National Intelligence Andrew Shearer, Members of the German Bundestag, and Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.
“Our bipartisan, bicameral delegation of nine members – representing many of Congress’ most important committees – went to the Halifax International Security Forum this weekend to send a clear message: America stands strongly behind Ukraine and will work closely with our allies and partners to defend freedom and strengthen the rule of law. We were inspired by hearing addresses from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska, and we pressed our allies to continue supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. I’m grateful to Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and James Risch (R-Idaho) for leading the delegation, and I look forward to continuing these crucial dialogues with our international colleagues.
“While in Halifax, I also reaffirmed our close political and economic ties with Canada, Delaware’s largest international trading partner. I thanked U.S. Ambassador David Cohen and Canadian Ambassador to the U.S. Kirsten Hillman for their strong leadership strengthening our relations, and I met with members of the Canada-U.S. Business Council to discuss mutually beneficial job-creating opportunities between our two nations. Canada is one of our most important allies, and I appreciate every chance to remind members of both countries how much we gain from this strong relationship.”
Senator Coons is Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
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