Society, Culture, and Security

Conscription if necessary? Learnings for Canada from Germany’s reintroduction of conscription

Germany is the latest NATO ally to take steps towards introducing conscription. Is this a sign for Canada that conscription is necessary for us to meet our NATO commitments? In this article, Rudy Yuan examines the multifaceted legacy of conscription in Germany and Canada, evaluating the cultural and military soundness of such a policy.

Asia-Pacific Indo-Pacific and NATO

Building New Bridges: How Canada’s Defence Pact with Indonesia Signals a New Direction in Canadian Foreign Policy

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.

Society, Culture, and Security

Inside the NATO Association of Canada: An Intern’s Perspective

Last term, the NATO Association of Canada was proud to welcome Joshua Liu, a Grade 10 student, as one of its interns. Joshua contributed to the development of the Security in Community civics course, helping make complex global security issues accessible to Ontario students. In this article, Joshua reflects on his mission of connecting Canadians with NATO’s role in peace and security.

Cyber Security and Emerging Threats Danylo Kotenko

Beyond the Front Line: Lessons from Ukraine’s Digital Battlefield

During Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the world was given yet another case to underscore how cyberspace has become a battlefield. In January 2022, researchers uncovered Whisper Gate, a virus that corrupted the master boot record on targeted computers. Following on to February,  another malware, Hermetic Wiper, erased data hours before the Russian invasion. Banks, ministries Read More…

Alexander Martin Cyber Security and Emerging Threats

Science, Technology, and Strategic Foresight: Strengthening NATO for a Complex Future

This year was a big moment for science and technology (S&T) within NATO. On July 1, 2025, the Alliance designated Steen Søndergaard as its new Chief Scientist, taking over from Dr. Bryan Wells in order to bring a fresh approach to NATO’s S&T efforts. At the 2025 NATO Summit at The Hague, the Allies agreed Read More…

Karla Garcia Society, Culture, and Security

The Authoritarian Drift of Trump’s Second Term

With 142 executive orders signed in just 100 days, President Trump’s second term opened with a rapid consolidation of executive power. The orders targeted such key areas as border enforcement, foreign aid, and commitments to international institutions.  Immigration policy quickly emerged as a key instrument of executive overreach. Building on the hardline stance of Donald Read More…

Antalya Popatia Cyber Security and Emerging Threats Jake Rooke Muskaan Waraich NATO NATO and Canada Security Security, Trade and the Economy

Where They Stand: Canada’s Federal Political Parties Defence Platforms 2025

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.

James Lautens

All Eyes on Us: The Future of the Five Eyes Intelligence Group

With the robustness of the rules-based international order in question, multilateral agreements are more crucial than ever. Intelligence-sharing in particular, such as among the Five Eyes intelligence group, has played a critical role to Canadian and international security cooperation since the end of the Second World War. However, recent criticisms from the White House have called to remove Canada from the intelligence group altogether. What would this mean for the security of Canada and our allies’ ability to counter growing threats around the world?

Society, Culture, and Security Tatiana Velickovic

Has the Time Finally Come for a European Army?

The idea of a collective European defence force is as old as the European integration project itself. However, it has always been outshone by NATO and deemed too logistically and politically arduous for a supranational body that was excelling in projecting soft power. Fast-forward to 2025, three years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and only a few months into Trump’s second term, which has included a great deal of NATO- and Europe-criticism, suggesting that the United States might no longer help defend Europe. The idea of deepened European defence integration, perhaps even a sovereign European army, is no longer so far-fetched. Can the EU make use of its single market to harness its defence capabilities and work around the political divisions on foreign and security policy within the Union?

NATO and Canada Olena Kryzhanivska

Three Russian Threats and How Canada Can Prepare for Them

While Canada might seem an unlikely target of direct threats from the Russian Federation, its engagement in global affairs and commitments to human rights and democracy inevitably put it at odds with Russia’s vision of the world order, drawing it into conflict with Russia’s revisionist foreign policy. With the Trump Administration pursuing an apparent rapprochement Read More…