The Indo-Pacific is the geopolitical centre of the world and combines the Asia-Pacific and the Indian Ocean into a single region. As a strategic concept, the Indo-Pacific captures the interest of global powers like the U.S., China, India, Australia, Japan, and the UK, and tests NATO’s ability to adapt and maintain global peace in an inter-connected world. The program’s mandate is to provide Canadians with an analysis of security challenges in the region and to uncover the interplay of global powers, amidst emerging multipolarity in the region.
In this article, Narayan Srivastava examines how China’s accelerating push into deep-
sea mineral partnerships across the Cook Islands, Kiribati, and Tonga is reshaping the
South Pacific’s strategic balance. The article also highlights emerging vulnerabilities for
Canada and NATO in critical mineral supply chains. The piece evaluates how Pacific
resource politics now intersect with broader questions of regional dependence, maritime influence, and great-power competition.
In “China’s Calculated Partnerships: Decoding Beijing’s Alignment with Russia and NATO’s Strategic Response,” Daniel Lincoln argues that Beijing’s support for Moscow stems from insecurity, not ideology, and that misreading this dynamic risks hardening a fragile partnership. The piece calls for a strategy of restraint and engagement – one that deters aggression while offering China reasons to distance itself from the Kremlin.
In his latest piece, Alexander Morrow highlights how new NATO spending commitments strengthen security in both Europe and the Indo-Pacific. As the alliance rebalances burden sharing, European arms purchases have the potential to bolster the United State’s military industrial base and its ability to deter aggression against Taiwan.
In Strategic Myopia: The Folly of Tariffing China to Halt Russian Aggression in Ukraine, Daniel Lincoln argues that proposed secondary sanctions on China would backfire by hurting Western economies more than Beijing. Drawing on data and historical parallels, he contends that China’s vast domestic market, diversified trade networks, and resilience to sanctions make economic coercion ineffective. Instead, he maintains that NATO should focus on understanding Beijing’s strategic calculus and pursue policies that engage rather than alienate China.
Narayan Srivastava highlights how NATO’s relevance in today’s multipolar world depends on engagement with the Global South. From safeguarding maritime chokepoints to strengthening resilience in energy and trade, actors like India, Brazil, and the Gulf states are emerging as indispensable partners. By expanding its partnership models and leveraging shared interests, this article explores how NATO can reinforce its role as the global custodian of stability, ensuring that the Alliance not only adapts to new realities but leads in shaping them.
What does Canada’s defence pact with Indonesia mean for foreign policy? In this article, Karissa Cruz highlights the broader implications posed by Canada’s new strategy in maritime and military cooperation with Indonesia, what it means for both countries, and how it can be considered a response to the shift in America’s foreign policy.
Canada is a hotspot of money laundering from the Indo-Pacific region. In his new article, Rubiat Saimum is explaining why Canada should treat money laundering as a national security priority and strengthen institutional ties with Indo-Pacific nations to address it.
What could Britain’s decision to relinquish sovereignty over a crucial US-UK naval outpost mean for NATO security in the Indo-Pacific? In this article, Angus MacKellar outlines the strategic importance of the British Indian Ocean Territory and considers the risks associated with the controversial handover of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius.
By Daniel Lincoln The modern Indo-Pacific is witnessing assertions of strategic autonomy that challenge classical geopolitical logics and patterns of great power competition. During the 2025 Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, regional leaders signaled that they will not be corralled into binary agreements amid intensifying US-China rivalry. The forum revealed a fundamental rejection of zero-sum superpower Read More…
NATO’s relevance in a multipolar world depends on engaging the Global South. From India to the Gulf, new partners can help NATO secure trade, energy & stability ensuring the alliance adapts and leads in shaping global order.