Pinpointing the responsibilities of democratic nations will be one of the major discussion points as the fourth annual International Security Forum gets underway in Halifax today.

The city is hosting over 300 politicians, security personnel, experts and media at the Westin Hotel for both private and public talks over the next three days.

“We’re certainly looking at the Middle East, not only on issues relating to Palestine and Israel, but also Syria and the implications of the democratic movement in the Arab world,” forum president Peter Van Praagh told News 95.7.

“We’ll also be talking about China and the leadership changes going on in China,” continued Van Praagh. “We’ll also be taking a step back and we’ll look at, what are the special responsibilities of democratic nations in the today’s world?”

For the first time, the forum is also putting a focus on energy security issues.

National Defence Minister Peter MacKay will be delivering opening remarks at 3 p.m. today.

U.S. Senators John McCain and Mark Udall will lead a congressional delegation. The forum will also host Alberta Premier Alison Redford, Canadian Associate Min. of National Defence and Min. of State Bernard Valcourt, Canadian Min. of Public Safety Vic Toews, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Transformation Jean-Paul Paloméros, and Afghanistan’s senior defense advisor Abdul Rahim Wardak.

While some of the meetings will be private, the panel discussions are open to the public and will be streamed live.