Conference of Defence Associations Institute

In the premiere episode of the "Geopolitical Update" podcast, Joseph Varner, Deputy Director of the Conference of Defence Associations discusses the repercussions following the death of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. Alongside analysis on ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and China's military drills near Taiwan, Varner offers critical insights into the evolving geopolitical landscape...

This installment of the CDA Institute’s Expert Series brings together perspectives from core BRICS members—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—to explore the purpose of BRICS, its impact on the international rules-based order, and its role in challenging Western dominance. The panel discusses the relationships, priorities, and goals of member states; views on multipolarity in the intern...

How can Canada strengthen its intelligence culture and break the habit of operating in silos? What has been the impact of a decades-long strategic deficit in policy coherence and what are the steps to overcome it? In this episode, Vincent Rigby discusses the hesitation between departments and agencies in the security and intelligence community to more proactively share and coordinate on intelligen...

What does the war in Ukraine mean for Russian foreign policy under President Vladimir Putin and how is it being leveraged to drive a wedge between “the West and the Rest”? How did the Cold War-era great power competition between the United States and the former Soviet Union influence Putin’s worldview and inform his foreign policy ambitions?  Dr. Angela Stent traces the underpinnings of contempora...

In this week’s episode, J. Michael Cole, Jude Blanchette, Shelley Rigger, and David Sacks join us to discuss the history of Cross-Strait relations, Taiwan’s military and logistical capabilities, the role of the United States in deterring conflict in the Taiwan Strait, CCP influence strategies and PLA activities in the Taiwan strait, and Taiwan’s strategic significance to the PRC. The panel dissect...

As the prospect of a Trump or a MAGA leader returning to the White House looms, how can Canada proactively safeguard its national security amidst potential trade turmoil? What implications would a MAGA-led America have on global alliances like NATO and, specifically, Canada's strategic positioning? Kim Nossal dissects the potential ripple effects of a MAGA resurgence, particularly under Donal...

A US criminal indictment recently revealed an alleged plot connected to the Indian government to carry out multiple assassinations in North America. The indictment accuses Indian national Nikhil Gupta of attempting to arrange a killing in New York, linked to a case that strained Canada-India relations. The targets included Sikh separatist activists, sparking concerns about potential implications f...

In the wake of allegations made by Mr. Spavor and their implications for Canadian security, this panel delves into the intricacies of the Global Security Reporting Program (GSRP) and whether it requires more accountability and oversight.  Artur Wilczynski, Wesley Wark, and Philippe Lagassé discuss Spavor’s allegations against the GSRP, the evolution of the program in the context of emerging global...