Conference of Defence Associations Institute

In today’s episode of the Expert Series, Dr. P. Whitney Lackenbauer discusses several key aspects of Arctic security. The discussion highlights the challenges posed by China's growing presence in the Arctic, especially in light of a recent encounter between a Canadian warship and a Chinese research vessel in the Bering Strait. Dr. Lackenbauer also examines NORAD’s role in monitoring foreign a...

In this Expert Series episode, we meet with Dr. Oriana Mastro to discuss Chinese military modernization and what it means for Chinese hegemony in Asia and the Great Power competition with the United States. Dr. Mastro discusses the strategic importance of Taiwan to China, the likelihood of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, and the technological advancements rapidly closing the gap between China and th...

In this episode of the Expert Series podcast, we meet with Tim Addison, Norman Jolin, and Adam Lajeunesse to discuss the current state of Canada's security challenges and our Navy’s capacity.  Addison highlights the particular security challenges Canada faces in the 21st century, and notes the importance of an immediate response given the delays in ship procurement while Jolin analyzes the im...

In this Expert Series episode, we meet with Chief Caroline Xavier of the Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSE) to discuss emerging cyber and foreign interference threats Canada faces, CSE’s ability to counter these threats through active and defensive cyber operations and cooperation with allies, and ways Canadians can protect themselves from increasingly aggressive foreign threat act...

In this week's episode of the "Geopolitical Update" podcast, Joe Varner, Deputy Director of the Conference of Defence Associations, discusses new intelligence on an alleged Iranian assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, presumably in retaliation for the killing of Qasem Soleimani; China-Russia joint naval activity in the South China Sea and its implications for the...

In this episode of the Expert Series podcast, we meet with Alexander Moens and Ryan Dean to reflect on last week’s NATO Summit in Washington D.C. and what it means for Canada’s credibility in the Alliance moving forward. During the Summit, Canada’s announcement it would be working to meet the 2% defence spending threshold was met with skepticism by allies. In today's discussion, Moens and Dea...

What implications does Canada's defence spending deficit have for its relationship with NATO? In this episode of the Expert Series podcast, we meet with Yves Giroux, Justin Massie, David Bercuson, and Christopher Sands to discuss Canada’s defence spending, its failure to meet the 2% GDP spending commitment and implications for the alliance, the historical role of Canada within the NATO allian...

Has Canada lost the respect of the NATO Alliance and its members?  In this Expert Series episode, we meet with Hon. Peter MacKay, former Minister of National Defence, to discuss the ongoing NATO Summit in Washington D.C., Canada’s ongoing failure to meet the 2% defence spending target set by NATO, and the consequences this bodes for Canada behind closed doors at the Summit. This episode also highl...

Are the NATO Alliance and its European allies prepared for the possibility of a second Trump presidency?  In this Expert Series episode, we meet with Jamie Shea, Steven Pifer, Julian Lindley-French and Leonard Schütte to discuss the implications of a second Trump term, the impact of European elections for NATO cohesion, and what continually shifting U.S. foreign policy means for the NATO alliance...

In this week's episode of the "Geopolitical Update" podcast, Joe Varner, Deputy Director of the Conference of Defence Associations, discusses the poor performance of US President Joe Biden in last week’s national debate with former President, Donald Trump, instability in the Democratic party, and the geopolitical implications of a potential second Trump presidency. Varner also discu...

How can NATO navigate internal disagreements and external pressures to effectively support Ukraine while maintaining unity and strategic stability amid global geopolitical uncertainties? In this episode of the Expert Series, join Alexander Lanoszka as he explores the dynamics of the upcoming NATO Summit in Washington. This episode features discussion on Ukraine's recent tactical successes in...

What can today's leaders and NATO learn from the parallels between our current international security environment and that which preceded the Second World War? In this episode of the Expert Series, join former Defence Minister David Pratt as he explores the critical stakes of the upcoming NATO Summit. Drawing chilling parallels between today's international security tensions and the prel...

In this week's episode of the "Geopolitical Update" podcast, Joe Varner, Deputy Director of the Conference of Defence Associations, discusses North Korea’s recent failed missile launch, which was potentially a hypersonic weapon; the war in Ukraine, which has become a stalemate, with neither Russia nor Ukraine achieving their war aims; Israel’s ongoing operations in Gaza; Hamas’ atte...

In this episode of the Expert Series Podcast Gordon Venner, Kerry Buck, Stéfanie Von Hlatky, and Vincent Rigby discuss the present geostrategic climate and its implications for Canada at the upcoming NATO Summit in Washington. They discuss Russia’s geopolitical aims, the war in Ukraine, NATO's adaptability to emerging threats and changes in the geopolitical landscape, and the importance of Ca...

On today’s Expert Series podcast Michael O’Hanlon, Raymond Kuo, J. Michael Cole, and Scott Simon discuss China’s recent military exercises near Taiwan and their implications for Taiwan’s security, the logistical challenges China would need to address for a successful invasion of Taiwan and Taiwan’s defensive measures against potential blockades or invasions, the domestic reaction in Taiwan to Chin...

Two weeks ago, The Expert Series hosted Steven Chase, Dick Fadden, and Wes Wark to discuss NSICOP’s Special Report on Foreign Interference. This week, we invited Robert Fife, Philippe Lagassé, Dan Stanton, and Marcus Kolga to the program to provide further insight and updates on the report's findings, developments since its release, and what measures will be taken to address the challenge of...

Stephen Nagy returns for season 3, episode 1 of the Expert Series to discuss Canada's latest defence policy update and its implications for regional security and engagement. He also analyzes the effectiveness of the Indo-Pacific strategy over a year since its release, strategic autonomy in Southeast Asia, regional security dynamics, the compatibility of FOIP and BRI, and the hedging strategie...

In this week's episode of the "Geopolitical Update" podcast, Joe Varner, Deputy Director of the Conference of Defence Associations, discusses a new annual survey by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) on global armaments, which found that the number and types of nuclear weapons in development have increased as states deepen their reliance on nuclear deterrence,...

In this week's episode of the "Geopolitical Update" podcast, Joe Varner, Deputy Director of the Conference of Defence Associations, discusses Russia’s rationale for sailing a squadron of warships to Cuba and what we can expect in the hours ahead, Russian tactical nuclear drills in Europe near NATO and Belarussian borders, recent incidents involving Chinese naval and air drills aroun...

Professor of Practice at McGill’s Institute for the Study of International Development and Distinguished Fellow for CIGI Rohinton Medhora joins us for the final episode of season 2 of the Expert Series to discuss the surprising outcome of India’s recent election and the factors that influenced it. Rohinton discusses the unexpected performance of Narendra Modi's BJP, the reasons behind their l...

In this special edition of the Expert Series, experts discuss the implications of NSICOP’s Special Report on Foreign Interference in Canada’s Democratic Processes and Institutions. The report, released by the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians, details serious allegations of parliamentarians collaborating with foreign actors. Steven Chase from the Globe and Mail, form...

In this week's episode of the "Geopolitical Update" podcast, Joe Varner, Deputy Director of the Conference of Defence Associations, discusses Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP’s reduced power following the results of the Indian election and its implications for domestic and foreign policy, Russian submarine activity in the North Atlantic and tensions in Europe between NATO an...

Thomas Juneau joins us again for a wide-ranging discussion on Iran, from the impact of the death of President Riasi, to recent Canadian sanctions, the evolution of Canada's relationship with Iran, and the Iran-Israel conflict which escalated in April, with Iran’s first direct attack on Israel since the Islamic Republic was established in 1979. Juneau analyses the impact of this latest flare-u...

In this week's episode of the "Geopolitical Update" podcast, Joe Varner, Deputy Director of the Conference of Defence Associations, discusses recent developments in Iran's nuclear weapons program, North Korea's failed attempt to launch a reconnaissance satellite, the significance of the joint statement issued by President Xi Jinping and President Vladimir Putin on deepenin...

This past week, nearly one-quarter of the U.S. Senate criticized Prime Minister Trudeau over Canada's defence spending, urging Canada to present a plan at the NATO summit to meet the alliance's spending target. This was followed by comments from American Ambassador to Canada David Cohen about Canada becoming an outlier in NATO. These remarks are salient, given the upcoming Washington Sum...