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Last December, in a bizarre move, the former president of South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law. Speculation abounded as to why he did so. The BBC reported, after interviewing members of his inner circle, that Yoon Suk Yeol was driven by an urge to win, and viewed the South Korean opposition leader, Lee Read More…
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…
In October 2024, the Black Sea state of Georgia held a heavily disputed parliamentary election. Foreign policy dominated pre-election discourse among parties. For both the current ruling party and the various parties making up the opposition, the future of relations with the European Union (EU), NATO, and Russia were at the center of the discussion. Read More…
In early April, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke softly and carried a big stick at a NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs meeting in Brussels. A more mainstream, small-l liberal Republican in an overwhelmingly “MAGA” administration, Rubio was probably the most suitable Trump cabinet pick to dispatch to Europe to smooth over relations with the representatives of 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.
On March 18, 2025, Poland and the three Baltic countries announced that they would be considering withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention, otherwise known as the Mine Ban Treaty. This was followed by Finland, which shared similar remarks on April 1. This recent trend among NATO states bordering Russia and their ally, Belarus, shows the heightened Read More…
At an increasing rate, critical minerals are at the forefront of international relations. Critical minerals are a hot topic not only in the business sphere but also the defence sphere.This is especially true now, with President Donald Trump pushing Ukraine to sign over its critical mineral rights to the United States. This demand is presented Read More…
The idea of a collective European defence force is as old as the European integration project itself. However, it has always been outshone by NATO and deemed too logistically and politically arduous for a supranational body that was excelling in projecting soft power. Fast-forward to 2025, three years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and only a few months into Trump’s second term, which has included a great deal of NATO- and Europe-criticism, suggesting that the United States might no longer help defend Europe. The idea of deepened European defence integration, perhaps even a sovereign European army, is no longer so far-fetched. Can the EU make use of its single market to harness its defence capabilities and work around the political divisions on foreign and security policy within the Union?
International society, once marked by predictable institutions and norms, is now increasingly marred by violations of international law and uncertainty. Near-daily disruptions, including territorial aggression and economic coercion, are undermining the global equilibrium upon which decades of peace and prosperity depended. The present utility of NATO lies in its ability to salvage the transatlantic bond, ensure cohesion among its members, and Read More…
While Canada might seem an unlikely target of direct threats from the Russian Federation, its engagement in global affairs and commitments to human rights and democracy inevitably put it at odds with Russia’s vision of the world order, drawing it into conflict with Russia’s revisionist foreign policy. With the Trump Administration pursuing an apparent rapprochement Read More…