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.
In his newest article, James Lautens explores why NATO should focus on building stronger relationships in the Indo-Pacific and what opportunities can be derived from such an investment. He argues that by investing in and cooperating with the democracies in the region, NATO can curb the influence of Russia and China, who are increasingly challenging the rules-based international order.
Despite vocally supporting Ukraine, between February 2022 and February 2025, NATO countries paid more to Russia for energy imports than they provided in aid to Ukraine. This article analyzes the limits of NATO’s strategic decoupling from Russian fossil fuels and proposes concrete steps the alliance as a whole, and Canada in particular, should take to tackle this problem.
The Situation The Middle East currently stands on the brink of cataclysm due to the extraordinarily tense stand-off between Israel and Iran, largely centering around Iran’s nuclear status. With the situation still very much in flux, a key question persists: Will the ongoing hostilities escalate into a broader conflict, or will diplomatic negotiations lead to Read More…
This article analyzes the U.S.-Ukraine mineral deal – a diplomatic success for Ukraine that nonetheless signals a transition to a more restrained U.S. approach to global defense. It argues that other NATO members must step up to safeguard collective security and work toward fostering mutually beneficial economic cooperation within the alliance.
Canada is seeing rising tensions on its southern border. While calls from the current US administration to make Canada the 51st state draw the public’s attention, there is another border that has seemed to slip the minds of most Canadians: the Arctic. Canada and Russia share a border through the Arctic, which has proven to Read More…
Ukraine’s innovative technological defence sector is crucial in enabling resistance against Russian aggression. Its affordable, AI-powered, and battlefield-tested technology is redefining the future of warfare. Canada and other NATO members should foster partnerships with Ukrainian businesses to both provide economic resources for Ukraine’s war effort and to safeguard the competitiveness of their own defence industries
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.
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…
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…
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…