The mission of NATO Association of Canada is to promote peace, prosperity, and security through knowledge and understanding of the importance of NATO.
We strive to educate and engage Canadians about NATO and NATO’s goal of peace, prosperity and security. NATO Association of Canada ensures that we have an informed citizenry able to contribute to discussions about Canada’s role on the world stage. As a leading member of the Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA), NATO Association of Canada has strong and enduring ties with sister organizations in many of the alliance countries, as well as members of NATO’s “Partnership for Peace” and “Mediterranean Dialogue” programmes. The NAOC has had a leading role in the recent transformation and modernization of the ATA, and helped to create and develop the Youth Atlantic Treaty Association (YATA). The NAOC has strong ties with the Government of Canada including Global Affairs Canada and the Department of National Defence. We are constantly working to create and maintain relationships with international organizations such as the World Bank Group, the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development, NATO Headquarters, the International Criminal Court, and other prominent international NGOs and think tanks.
On May 31, 2025, the NATO Association of Canada hosted a conference titled Safeguarding Ukraine’s Future: Security Guarantees and Demining for Recovery and Reconstruction. This publication features the keynote address delivered by a renowned journalist and policy commentator, Diane Francis, offering insights into the challenges and imperatives of securing Ukraine’s long-term recovery.
The idea of military participation in responses to natural disasters is not new. Canadian and other militaries have often played a role in responding to natural disasters in Canada and abroad. However, the increase in the frequency and impact of natural disasters in the context of climate changes requires a new, bold response. The concept Read More…
This special report provides an objective overview of the newly elected minority Liberal government’s plans regarding defence and discusses proposals from other opposition parties.
For decades, NATO has maintained a clear benchmark for defence spending: 2% of a nation’s GDP. This figure signifies a commitment to collective security. However, as of 2024, Canada spends only about 1.4% of its GDP on defence. With increasing pressure from NATO allies and a shifting global security landscape, Canada faces the pressing question: Can Read More…
On June 4th, 2024, the NATO Association of Canada hosted a delegation of Hungarian students from the Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC), members of the Consulate General of Hungary in Toronto, and NAOC Directors at the Royal Canadian Military Institute in Toronto. Surrounded by prestigious military medals in the aptly named Medals Room of the RCMI, visitors took part in a unique Read More…
To mark the 75th anniversary of NATO, the NATO Association of Canada, Toronto, organizes several events that will highlight NATO’s alliance and Canada. We received the following invitation: “We invite you to be a part of this initiative and share your organization’s contribution to NATO’s collective history.” My, or rather our “organization” is the Canadian Association Read More…
The NATO Association of Canada is pleased to announce the publication of its summer 2023 publication, Cutting through the Haze: Grey Zone Operations and Contemporary Threats. Produced in collaboration with the Canadian Army Journal (CAJ), the volume explores grey zone operations and other dimensions of today’s threat landscape. The grey zone, which the volume describes Read More…
On July 7, the NATO Association of Canada hosted “Insights into the 2023 Vilnius Summit: A Moderated Discussion.” The virtual event, co-moderated by Matthew D’Amico and Aly Sayani, both members of the NATO Association of Canada’s team, brought together the highest-ranking members of the Baltic states’ diplomatic community in Canada. This included Margus Rava, Estonia’s Read More…
From June 3 to June 10, Robert Baines, president and CEO of the NATO Association of Canada, joined a delegation of Canadian academics and security experts—Steve Saideman, Jean-Christophe Boucher, Justin Massie, Marcus Kolga, and Alexandra Gheciu—and members of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Public Affairs on a visit to Latvia. A testament to the close ties Read More…