This is the second installment of the two part series on Maritime Autonomous Systems. See Part One, Special Report: The MAS Gap, Canada Falls Behind as Allies Adopt Maritime Autonomous Systems. The rapid development and deployment of Maritime Autonomous Systems (MAS) are transforming global maritime security. Canada is lagging behind its allies, partners, adversaries, and Read More…
Security, Trade and the Economy
The Security, Trade and the Economy program aims to provide Canadians with relevant and accessible analysis on current international economic policies with a focus on Canadian interests and trade security. Additionally, the program examines our country’s commitment to NATO’s mandate of encouraging economic collaboration and eliminating economic conflict.
On Guard with Thee: Why Canada Should Join the European Union
President Donald Trump’s promise to delay imposing tariffs on Canadian goods caused many Canadians to breathe a sigh of relief. With Canada seemingly uniting around the threat that the U.S. poses to our economic well-being, it seems like we are on course to diplomatically deal with this crisis and hopefully resume normal relations. Yet, with Read More…
Bazaar Opportunities: Canada’s Trade Future
Canada is in a precarious position when it comes to international trade. With the recent election of Donald J. Trump to the Oval Office, trade security is being threatened by a long-time ally who misunderstands the norms that govern international trade and the global economy. Trump asserts that he will apply a 25% tariff on Read More…
Navigating Turbulent Waters: The Canada-India Rift and Its Implications for Trade, Security, and the Canadian Economy
Diplomatic relations between India and Canada, long characterized by shared traditions of democracy, pluralism, and strong interpersonal connections have hit rock bottom. This turmoil has sent ripples across critical domains, from trade and security to economic stability. The recent falling out stems from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s assertion of “credible intelligence” linking the Indian Read More…
How Canada Can Reach 2%: Learning from Allies
For decades, NATO has maintained a clear benchmark for defence spending: 2% of a nation’s GDP. This figure signifies a commitment to collective security. However, as of 2024, Canada spends only about 1.4% of its GDP on defence. With increasing pressure from NATO allies and a shifting global security landscape, Canada faces the pressing question: Can Read More…
Special Report: China’s Strategic Complicity and the Hidden Engine Behind Russia’s War Effort
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been marked by limited battlefield success, with no indication of a divisive victory for either party or a peace settlement. Russia has had to cope with an almost systematic increase in sanctions in scope and scale in order to conduct its invasion of Ukraine. These sanctions aim to hobble Russia’s Read More…
NATO and Armenia: New Strategic Interests and Pathways Towards Contained Cooperation
For centuries, Türkiye has been a major player in the West’s economic, security, and international trade strategies. This has allowed Turkish governments to continue organized and popular discrimination and oppression against Armenians in Turkiye, which began before the Armenian Genocide of 1915 which Türkiye’s official position is to deny. Currently, an iteration of this situation Read More…
Finland and Sweden: Newly Joining NATO and Changing Foreign Relations
Between spring of 2023 and 2024, one major change happened to the European security landscape. In April 2023, Finland formally joined NATO, with Sweden following in March 2024. This change was preceded by Russia having invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Political leaders from both NATO and the newly admitted members acknowledged that they were responding Read More…
Bridging Shortfalls: An Analysis of the Strategic Exchange between Russia and Iran
Amidst the tumult of conflict in Ukraine and instability in the Middle East, the partnership between Russia and Iran is at a historic juncture and is ripe for potential multifaceted cooperation. With Western sanctions, defence production and supply vulnerabilities persist for both these states, which seek to advance their respective interests and authoritarian model of Read More…
A Breakdown of the United States’ $61 Billion Aid Package to Ukraine and Lessons for Canada
Since the Russian invasion in 2022, Ukraine has been a significant recipient of aid from the United States and dozens of other NATO member states, including Canada. This past April, after a six-month delay in Congress, the United States’ legislature voted to pass a much-anticipated $61-billion dollar aid package to Kyiv, its most extensive contribution to date. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Read More…