Foreign Minister to highlight strong ties during visit to Europe
News release
December 3, 2018 – Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada
The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs, will visit Brussels, Milan and Berlin from December 4 to 8, 2018, to attend a series of international meetings and events.
From December 4 to 5, the Minister will be in Brussels, Belgium, to attend the NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting. During this meeting, the Minister will highlight Canada's role in and commitment to the NATO alliance.
From December 6 to 7, the Minister will be in Milan, Italy, to attend the 25th Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), where she will reiterate the need to uphold the rules-based international order in the face of growing challenges around the world.
During both the NATO and OSCE meetings, the Minister will work with G7 and other partners to address Canada's grave concerns about recent Russian aggression, particularly near the Kerch Strait, and to underscore Canada's unwavering commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Finally, the Minister will be in Berlin, Germany, on December 8 to highlight the importance of the Canada-Germany relationship and of multilateralism while attending the Atlantik-Brücke award ceremony.
"This coming week I will continue working with our allies to protect democratic freedoms and reinforce transatlantic cooperation and security. These meetings will also be a key opportunity for Canada and the international community to stand united against Russian aggression, and in support of the rules-based international order. Now, more than ever, we must invest in Canada's relationships with Europe and with foundational, multilateral security organizations like NATO and OSCE."
- Hon. Chrystia Freeland, P.C., M.P., Minister of Foreign Affairs
Quick facts
Canada has been a member of NATO since it was founded in 1949. NATO remains a vital force contributing to international peace and security. Today, the security alliance includes 29 countries from North America and Europe.
Canada assumed a leadership role as one of four NATO Framework Nations in June 2017, leading a robust multinational battlegroup in Latvia. Other allies working with Canada in Latvia, include Albania, Czech Republic, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain.
Canada also now leads the NATO Mission Iraq, which will train Iraq's security forces and help Iraq build credible, sustainable, inclusive and effective national security forces.
Canada is a founding participating state of the OSCE, the world's largest regional security organization. The OSCE seeks to advance political military cooperation, and to promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law, as well as economic and environmental cooperation, among its 57 participating states.
Founded in 1952, Atlantik-Brücke is an organization that aims to deepen cooperation at all levels between Germany, Europe and North America. The Atlantik-Brücke's highest honour, the Eric M. Warburg Award, highlights an individual committed to advancing transatlantic relations. This is the first time that a Canadian is receiving the award.
