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.
Bagram Air Base – once the bastion of coalition forces in Afghanistan – is now empty of U.S. and NATO troops, bringing an effective end to their presence in the country. Elliott Simpson reflects on what should be acknowledged, and hopefully learned from their efforts over the past 20 years.
Canadians are proud contributors to international peace and security. Eric Jackson tells the story of Sgt Donnie McDonald, an Imagery Technician deployed to Latvia for over seven months as part of Operation REASSURANCE.
HMS Queen Elizabeth’s maiden voyage to the South China Sea is indicative of the UK’s new global posture. But is it spreading itself too thin? Elliott Simpson presents the pros and cons of the UK’s recent tilt to Asia, and to a modern military.
Following the productive 2021 G7 and NATO Summits, Eric Jackson explores two overlapping security issues addressed by the nations and identifies areas for future improvement.
Talks between two of NATO’s southernmost members don’t seem to be making progress, as Turkey and Greece seem as far apart as ever. Elliott Simpson examines the latest flare up between these unlikely allies, and its effect on the strength of NATO’s southern flank.
Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg is set to outline the NATO 2030 initiative to the 30 NATO member countries next week. In prep, Eric Jackson highlights the NATO 2030 Young Leaders’ recommendations on how to strengthen the Alliance.
The latest appearance of right-wing extremism in Western militaries threatens norms governing the civil-military relationship in France. Elliott Simpson explores the severity of these events and the dangers of inaction.
Is the ‘2 percent’ rule an effective way to measure a member State’s commitment to NATO? Eric Jackson explores how political manipulation in current defence spending misrepresents a nation’s military readiness and suggests a broader definition for security expenditures.
Despite Russia knocking at the door, Georgia is seeking to deepen its ties with the West and join NATO. However, to understand the present, and attempt to predict the future of Georgia’s relationship with the alliance, Elliott Simpson examines the events of 2008 and their aftermath.
As tensions in Eastern Europe rise and calls for Ukrainian membership in NATO increase, Eric Jackson explores Ukraine’s pathway to NATO accession through the Partnership for Peace programme.