Since its inception in 1949, Canada has played an integral role in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and its numerous military and non-military engagements. As a founding member, Canada’s involvement over the past 70 years has varied from troop deployment and training in Europe during much of the Cold War, to activity abroad in places like Afghanistan and Libya. The articles in the NATO and Canada program examine NATO’s operational history and Canada’s role from a multitude of perspectives. The NATO Association of Canada aims to supply Canadians with a greater insight into the inner workings of this long-standing alliance and its Canadian contributions.
In this article, Sanam Singh argues that NATO’s medical system anchors every mission with Canada’s leadership enhancing its strength on the ground and in the air. The piece shows how Canada’s expertise positions NATO to confront the growing threat of cyberattacks targeting military healthcare.
Eight years after the start of Canada’s mission to Latvia, Ottawa continues to increase its commitment to the NATO multinational formation. Arguably, this is the most important component of Canada’s defence policy and a key part of the country’s foreign policy. The enhanced forward presence brigade led by Canada is one of several formations which serve to deter Russian aggression. These ‘tripwire forces’ aim to ensure that in the event of a Russian attack, many member states would be involved, guaranteeing a general response from the alliance. Beyond this, Canada’s leadership serves as a strong example of the country’s value to the alliance and reassures allies that they would not be abandoned in the event of war.
Alors que l’OTAN concentre son attention sur les fronts oriental et indo-pacifique, le Canada a l’occasion de redéfinir son rôle sur un flanc sud souvent négligé. Cet article soutient qu’Ottawa peut renforcer la résilience nord-africaine par l’innovation plutôt que par l’intervention, en mobilisant DIANA Halifax et en renforçant les capacités pour des projets pilotes de lutte anti-drones et de surveillance maritime en Tunisie et en Mauritanie.
Canada’s ambitious pledge to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035 marks a decisive shift in national priorities. This analysis by Emma Zhang examines whether the Carney government can strike a balance between defence spending and social welfare, and turn defence investment into sustainable economic growth.
While Canada’s military is often seen as a strong and modern fighting force, it also lacks many assets that are key to ensuring defensive capabilities, including Northern surveillance. Canadian ambitions to acquire Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft will revolutionize Northern intelligence gathering in order to bolster NORAD’s effectiveness and Canadian sovereignty. The Canadian Read More…
Why is there no prospect for peace in Ukraine, despite the war now closing in to its fourth year? Moscow and Kyiv simply do not have common ground on which to build an agreement. This is unlikely to change so long as the current quasi-stalemate continue and Russia believes it can achieve its aims.
Introduction Since its inception in 1949, NATO has grown from 12 to 32 members, a process formally known as enlargement. In accordance with Article 10 of the North Atlantic Treaty, membership is open to all European countries so long as they commit to NATO’s principles and meet the Alliance’s requirement for defence spending, along with Read More…
Canada has long championed the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda on the world stage, promoting gender equality in NATO missions and peace operations. Yet, at home, persistent structural barriers in the Canadian Armed Forces have created a gap between advocacy and action. Canada must address these domestic challenges and prioritize women’s meaningful leadership across all levels of the military to align its domestic practices with its global image.
NORAD began as a Cold War commitment between Canada and the United States to safeguard the skies and protect the North. Today. it has become a stage for Russia’s military expansion, China’s growing ambitions, and emerging threats that outdated systems can no longer reliably detect. The modernization of NORAD goes beyond new radar and missile defence technology, it reflects a broader commitment to protecting sovereignty and ensuring Canadians recognize that the Artic is no longer a remote frontier, it is the front line of our collective security and future.
Canada’s new Security and Defence Partnership (SDP) with the EU is a historic step toward deeper transatlantic defence ties, but its impact will depend on more than just participation. To move from ally to actor, Canada must navigate complex EU governance, negotiate meaningful access, and build long-term institutional presence.