THE HAGUE, Netherlands – Stephen Harper is attending the Nuclear Security Summit at The Hague today to meet with various officials at an event largely overshadowed by the crisis in eastern Europe.

Harper will meet with the Japanese prime minister at the summit, which is essentially focused on how to ensure the globe’s nuclear materials cannot be acquired by terrorists.

The prime minister is at the summit the day after G7 leaders meeting at the Dutch prime minister’s official residence announced they had essentially booted Russia out of the G8 due to its annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula.

There are 53 world leaders in this pristine European capital that features several picturesque canals and ponds and boasts a deer sanctuary in the middle of town. Young bucks are frequently seen bashing antlers playfully as residents of The Hague speed by on their bicycles on their way to work.

At the end of the day, the prime minister will make a statement to mark the end of the nuclear summit.

On Wednesday morning, he heads to Germany for two days. His agenda there will include a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.