In January, U.S. President Donald Trump urged NATO members to lift defence spending from the long-standing 2 per cent goal to 5 per cent of GDP. This was met with sharp criticism in Europe, and NATO officials dismissed the idea as unrealistic. No ally, including the United States, spends anywhere near 5 per cent; only Read More…
5. Authors of the NCC
A list of authors, past and present
Turning a War Criminal into a Dancing Grandpa
In March 2024, Prabowo Subianto—a controversial former general once banned from the U.S. for rights abuses—secured Indonesia’s presidency through a social media campaign that softened his image with playful content targeting youth voters. Not with lies, but with the use of ‘Gemoy’: an adorable online persona who played with cats and did viral dances, whose Read More…
The Authoritarian Drift of Trump’s Second Term
With 142 executive orders signed in just 100 days, President Trump’s second term opened with a rapid consolidation of executive power. The orders targeted such key areas as border enforcement, foreign aid, and commitments to international institutions. Immigration policy quickly emerged as a key instrument of executive overreach. Building on the hardline stance of Donald Read More…
Specific Pacific: What NATO can Gain from Improving Relationships in the Indo-Pacific
In his newest article, James Lautens explores why NATO should focus on building stronger relationships in the Indo-Pacific and what opportunities can be derived from such an investment. He argues that by investing in and cooperating with the democracies in the region, NATO can curb the influence of Russia and China, who are increasingly challenging the rules-based international order.
Should I Stay or Should I Go: The Normative Power of Travel Advisories in International Relations
Current diplomatic relations between Canada and the U.S. are fraught, to say the least. The current trade war has seen the imposition of multiple tariffs on Canada, targeting Canadian auto vehicles as well as aluminum, and other nations, leaving many Canadians feeling betrayed by the U.S. The Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, declared that Read More…
Between Ceasefire and Catastrophe: Israel, Iran, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Question
The Situation The Middle East currently stands on the brink of cataclysm due to the extraordinarily tense stand-off between Israel and Iran, largely centering around Iran’s nuclear status. With the situation still very much in flux, a key question persists: Will the ongoing hostilities escalate into a broader conflict, or will diplomatic negotiations lead to Read More…
Weaponized AI: The New Frontline in Global Disinformation Warfare
Synthetic video content has become a permanent feature of today’s digital ecosystem, subtly shaping perceptions and influencing political and social decisions. Alongside this, hybrid warfare, blending conventional military tactics with cyberattacks and disinformation, has become a key strategy for adversaries. By exploiting the openness and connectivity of modern societies, these methods destabilize governments and deepen Read More…
Misinformation and the Asian-Canadian Experience
Misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation (MDM) have long shaped public understanding and state policy, particularly when it comes to racialized and immigrant communities. For Asian Canadians, these false narratives are not a new phenomenon—they are deeply rooted in a colonial framework that defined Asia and its peoples through a lens of Orientalism. Coined by scholar Edward Read More…
Polar Promises: How Canada and NATO Can Defend the Arctic
Canada is seeing rising tensions on its southern border. While calls from the current US administration to make Canada the 51st state draw the public’s attention, there is another border that has seemed to slip the minds of most Canadians: the Arctic. Canada and Russia share a border through the Arctic, which has proven to Read More…
Playing the Cards Right: Ukraine’s Tech Edge is NATO’s Strategic Opportunity
Ukraine’s innovative technological defence sector is crucial in enabling resistance against Russian aggression. Its affordable, AI-powered, and battlefield-tested technology is redefining the future of warfare. Canada and other NATO members should foster partnerships with Ukrainian businesses to both provide economic resources for Ukraine’s war effort and to safeguard the competitiveness of their own defence industries










