Date: August 31, 2026
Reporter: Kim White
Canada is hosting senior military leaders from the United States, China and other countries this week for a major Indo-Pacific defence conference in Victoria, British Columbia, as Ottawa attempts to strengthen its position in the region while navigating increasingly difficult relationships with both Washington and Beijing.
The 28th annual Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defence conference brings together military leaders from 32 countries and is being co-hosted by Canada's Chief of the Defence Staff, General Jennie Carignan, and U.S. Pacific Command commander Admiral Samuel Paparo. The conference runs from August 31 to September 2 at the Victoria Conference Centre.
Canada's decision to host the gathering comes at a particularly sensitive moment for the country's foreign and defence policy. Relations between Ottawa and Washington have deteriorated amid President Donald Trump's trade policies and escalating disagreements over Canada's economic relationship with the United States.
At the same time, Canada has been seeking to improve relations with China, creating a complicated diplomatic environment as American and Chinese military representatives meet on Canadian soil for discussions focused on security cooperation and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
The conference has been held annually since 1998 and is designed to strengthen communication, cooperation and interoperability among military forces across the Indo-Pacific. While the event brings together countries with different strategic interests, its central focus is the changing security environment in the region.
This year's meeting is taking place against the backdrop of growing uncertainty about the future of American leadership in international security. The United States remains the dominant military power in the Indo-Pacific, and Canada has traditionally relied heavily on its defence and intelligence relationship with Washington.
However, the increasingly confrontational relationship between the Trump administration and Ottawa has raised questions about how Canada should prepare for a future in which its closest military partner may become less predictable.
International affairs professor Stephen Saideman of Carleton University said the situation places Canada in a difficult position because much of the country's defence planning has traditionally been built around close cooperation with the United States.
The uncertainty has implications not only for Canada but also for other countries participating in the conference. Military leaders across the Indo-Pacific depend on communication and cooperation with Washington to address issues ranging from maritime security to regional deterrence.
The conference provides an opportunity for those military leaders to discuss those challenges directly, although much of the substantive conversation is expected to take place behind closed doors.
The official theme of this year's conference is strengthening collective security in what participating countries describe as a dynamic regional environment. Senior military officials are also expected to hear from outside experts who will provide perspectives on security developments affecting the Indo-Pacific.
China's participation is particularly significant because Beijing and Washington remain strategic competitors across the region. Disputes over Taiwan, the South China Sea, military activity and regional influence have increased the importance of maintaining channels of communication between the two countries' armed forces.
Canada's decision to bring military leaders from both countries together reflects the broader diplomatic role Ottawa is attempting to play in the Indo-Pacific. Canada has increased its military and diplomatic engagement in the region in recent years, arguing that stability in the area is directly connected to Canadian economic and national-security interests.
The Indo-Pacific is home to some of the world's most important trade routes and economic powers. Canada relies heavily on international commerce through the Pacific, making maritime security and freedom of navigation important priorities for Ottawa.
The region is also becoming increasingly important to Canada's efforts to diversify its economic relationships. Ottawa has sought to expand trade and diplomatic ties in Asia as it attempts to reduce its dependence on the United States.
That strategy has become even more important as Canada's trade relationship with Washington has come under significant pressure.
Negotiations between Canada and the United States toward a new trade agreement collapsed earlier this month, adding to tensions between the two countries. Trump has repeatedly criticized Canada's trade policies and imposed tariffs on Canadian products, while Ottawa has responded with countermeasures.
The dispute has created uncertainty for Canadian businesses and has forced the federal government to consider ways of strengthening relationships with other international partners.
The defence conference therefore provides Canada with an opportunity to demonstrate that its international security partnerships extend beyond its traditional relationship with Washington.
Nevertheless, Canadian officials continue to emphasize the importance of cooperation with the United States. Despite political disagreements between the two governments, Canadian and American military and intelligence organizations maintain longstanding operational relationships.
Admiral Paparo previously highlighted the close relationship between the two countries when he visited the HMCS Ottawa in 2023, describing the strength and solidarity of Canadian-American cooperation and its importance to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Whether that message remains as strong this year is one of the questions surrounding the conference.
The United States has continued to play a central role in regional security, while Canada has sought to increase its own contribution. Canadian military vessels have participated in exercises and operations in the Indo-Pacific, and Ottawa has repeatedly stated that it intends to remain engaged in regional security affairs.
China's presence at the conference also illustrates the complexity of Canada's approach to Beijing. Ottawa has historically viewed China as both an important economic partner and a strategic challenge.
The Canadian government has recently attempted to improve diplomatic and economic relations with Beijing, while remaining concerned about Chinese military activity and broader security issues.
Having Chinese and American military leaders participate in the same conference gives Canada an opportunity to encourage dialogue between two countries whose relationship remains increasingly competitive.
For smaller Indo-Pacific countries, maintaining open communication between the major powers is also important. Many countries in the region have economic relationships with China while relying on the United States and other partners for security.
The possibility of a major-power confrontation therefore presents significant risks for countries whose economies depend on stable trade routes and predictable international relations.
The conference comes at a time when security concerns are expanding across the region. Military modernization, maritime disputes, cyber threats and strategic competition are forcing governments to reconsider how they organize collective defence.
The South China Sea remains one of the most closely watched areas, while tensions surrounding Taiwan continue to influence defence planning throughout the region.
The conference also provides participating military leaders with an opportunity to discuss how their forces can work together during emergencies, including humanitarian disasters and other threats that may require coordinated international responses.
Canada's role as host gives Ottawa an important diplomatic platform, but it also places the country under greater scrutiny. The government must demonstrate that it can maintain strong relationships with Washington while developing independent partnerships with other Indo-Pacific countries.
That challenge is particularly significant given Canada's economic dependence on the United States and the longstanding integration of the two countries' military and intelligence systems.
The current political environment has therefore created an unusual backdrop for what would normally be a largely military and diplomatic gathering.
While officials are expected to avoid turning the conference into a forum for political disputes, the tensions between Washington and Beijing—and the worsening relationship between Washington and Ottawa—are likely to influence discussions.
A joint media appearance by General Carignan and Admiral Paparo is expected Wednesday at the conclusion of the conference, providing an opportunity for the two senior military leaders to discuss the gathering publicly.
For Canada, the conference represents an opportunity to demonstrate that it remains committed to regional security despite the uncertainty surrounding its relationship with the United States.
For Washington, the meeting provides another venue for maintaining military relationships with Indo-Pacific partners.
For China, participation offers an opportunity to engage directly with military leaders from countries that are increasingly concerned about regional stability while reinforcing Beijing's position as a major power in the region.
As the three-day conference unfolds, much of the most important discussion will remain private. But the gathering itself sends a significant message: despite growing geopolitical tensions, military leaders from competing powers continue to recognize the importance of communication and cooperation.
Canada's role as host places it directly at the centre of that effort, at a time when Ottawa is attempting to strengthen its international partnerships, protect its national interests and navigate an increasingly uncertain security environment in the Indo-Pacific.