Canada has spent considerable time defining what it wants from the Indo-Pacific. The next challenge is demonstrating what it can accomplish there. Mongolia offers an opportunity to do precisely that. Prime Minister Mark Carney has argued that, in an era of great-power rivalry, middle powers need stronger networks among themselves. Canada cannot exercise influence in Read More…
What happens if Canada’s new submarines arrive late? In this article, Pavit Sidhu examines the risks of a submarine capability gap and argues that Canada should put lower-cost stopgap measures in place while it waits for the new fleet.
On the sidelines of the 28th Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense Conference in Victoria, BC, Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM), met privately with his Chinese counterpart, General Yang Zhibin, commander of the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Eastern Theater Command. This was the first time in more than two years that senior commanders Read More…
With rumblings that Russia might provoke neighbouring NATO member states, Zev Wood seeks to unravel Putin’s rationale and strategy. He argues that to counter potential military encroachments by Russia, Canada and NATO should remain steadfast in increasing deterrence posture, while simultaneously remaining aware of the potential blowback effects that accompany such a path. Using deterrence theory, Zev concludes that Canada should advocate for a strategy that combines credible deterrence and diplomatic off-ramps to reduce the potential for further escalation.
Women play an important role in agricultural and food systems, where food security, climate, and trade are connected and reinforce concepts that have economic and societal impacts. Recent geopolitical events and disruptions in the global supply chain have highlighted the necessity of including gender provisions in climate and trade agreements through mechanisms such as the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda, which contribute to the security and well-being of women around the world.
Joelle Reimer explores the intersection of emerging technology, privacy, and women’s security in her latest article for the NATO Association of Canada, “When Surveillance Becomes Wearable: AI Smart Glasses and the New Threat to Women’s Security.” The article examines how AI-enabled smart glasses can facilitate non-consensual surveillance, including covert recording, stalking, and image-based abuse, and why addressing the gendered security implications of wearable AI is increasingly important as these technologies become more widespread.
Is Canada an alliance liability? Zev Wood examines the arrest of an alleged Canadian spy at NATO, arguing that NATO’s decentralized vetting structure places greater importance on domestic security screenings, which increases the risk of Canada being perceived as a liability because of its structural vulnerabilities. Amid Canada’s renewed efforts to reaffirm its centrality within the alliance, Zev argues that the espionage case risks undoing meaningful strides made by the current government. To address this and protect NATO’s operational cohesion, Zev proposes institutional reforms to close gaps in Canada’s vetting architecture that allowed this case to occur.
Terrorism is no longer at the top of NATO’s agenda. After decades of war supporting the United States in its fight against terror, the pendulum has swung back to Europe. The war in Ukraine carries very clear security implications for NATO’s European members, who are rightly concerned that the emboldenment of a victorious Russia will lead to expanded aggression. At the same time, China has become a strategic competitor with military capacities that cannot be overlooked. As the alliance seeks to defend Europe, navigate the shifting priorities of the United States, and position itself to the threat of China, terrorism has become a secondary concern.
Russia’s Shadow Fleet is more than a sanctions-enforcement issue. Despite the economic utility these intentionally ambiguous vessels present to Moscow, Jonah Moffatt argues its activities demonstrate how Russia has fused its economic, intelligence, and security interests into one overarching hybrid strategy. The increased prevalence of the shadow fleet in the Arctic requires Canada to not only recognize the security implications of this threat, but work towards a coordinated response strategy with its regional NATO allies.
Rachel Potter examines Canada’s accelerating defence integration with the European Union, arguing that the durability of instruments like SAFE and Canada’s bilateral agreements with countries like Poland and Sweden reveal a structural recalibration rather than opportunistic hedging, one that positions Europe as a genuine alternative to Canada’s reliance on Washington and raises deeper questions about whether NATO’s traditional U.S.-anchored architecture can remain.