Defence and Intelligence

Just Don’t Share, Except With Care
- September 26, 2017
The federal government’s Public Safety Department has just released a bombshell ministerial directive dealing with the sensitive issue of intelligence sharing in cases that might involve torture. This issue has long and delicate roots, reaching back to the terrible case of Canadian intelligence sharing with the United States and Syria — post 9/11 — which

By Wesley Wark
Defence and Intelligence, International Security, Middle East
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The Case of Omar Khadr
- July 13, 2017
The Omar Khadr case is again front-page news following the settlement of his longstanding lawsuit against the Canadian government. The news has elicited a wide range of comments from the usual suspects. I was among a small group in Foreign Affairs Canada who dealt with the Khadr case from 2002, when he was captured at

By Daniel Livermore
Defence and Intelligence, Human Rights, International Law, International Security
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Liberals’ Bold Bill C-59 Would Redraw the National Security Landscape
- June 21, 2017
The Liberal government has finally introduced long-awaited reforms to national security legislation, fulfilling a promise to roll back the Harper government’s anti-terrorism measures and put its own stamp on security policy. These reforms are part of a last-minute surge of pronouncements, policy statements, and legislation introduced just before Members of Parliament head to the exits

By Wesley Wark
Defence and Intelligence, International Security
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Defence Review: A Realistic Plan That’s Bound to Disappoint
- June 14, 2017
The Liberal government finally released on June 7, after 18 months of anticipation, its new defence policy. As with any other official policy document, and especially defence policies, it is important to remember that its value is limited. A comparison of recent defence policies — the last ones were released in 2008, 2005, and 1994

By Thomas Juneau
Canadian Foreign Policy, Defence and Intelligence, International Security
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A New Defence Policy for a New World Disorder?
- June 12, 2017
Today’s world is sometimes described as “post-truth, post-West, post-order.” This week Canada received three maps for navigating it: first the House of Commons foreign policy speech by Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland, then the Defence Policy Review, and finally the International Development Review. Of the three, the second has gained the most headlines, the

By Srdjan Vucetic
Canadian Foreign Policy, Defence and Intelligence, Economy
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The G7 Disruptor
- June 1, 2017
The G7 is traditionally praised for its solidarity and collegiality, but the May 26–27 summit saw a very fragile partnership with an unapologetic disruptor at the table. The summit, and the NATO summit the day before, had its technical successes, but on critical issues the outcome was a heavy 6:1 disappointment. In recent years the

By John Sinclair
Canadian Foreign Policy, Defence and Intelligence, Economy, Environment
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What to Look for in Canada’s New White Paper on Defence
- April 24, 2017
Canada’s defence policy review statement is slated to be released in May 2017, a week or two before Prime Minister Justin Trudeau travels to Brussels on May 25 for a meeting with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) heads of state. All of them are expected to be there: on April 12, NATO Secretary General

By Srdjan Vucetic
Canadian Foreign Policy, Defence and Intelligence
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Wiretrap: Trump’s Tweet War with US Intelligence
- March 21, 2017
Early one Saturday morning, March 4, President Trump took to his favourite bully pulpit to issue his most infamous tweet — that President Obama had wiretapped his Trump Towers residence during the 2016 election — using various trigger words, including “McCarthyism.” Since then he has doubled-down on this preposterous claim at every opportunity, going so

By Wesley Wark
Defence and Intelligence, USA
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National Interest in the Age of Trump
- February 12, 2017
In his inauguration speech, US President Donald J. Trump made it clear that a central focus of his tenure will be America’s national interest. “From this moment on, it’s going to be America first,” he said, adding that the US “will seek friendship and goodwill with the nations of the world — but we do

By Srdjan Vucetic
Canadian Foreign Policy, Defence and Intelligence
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Canadian Forces Reality Check: Time to do Less with Less
- April 22, 2016
The Liberal government announced on April 6 that it is launching public consultations to inform the drafting of its new defence policy. In launching the review, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan emphasized that defence policy must be shaped by the defence needs of the country. This is as it should be. In practice, however, defence policy

By Thomas Juneau
Defence and Intelligence, International Security
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Thinking About Strategic Posture Options: Dutch Lessons for Canada?
- April 6, 2016
The Trudeau government’s maiden budget pledged important new commitments, but defence spending was not one of them. One could argue that this is only logical: money should not be spent before the defence review is completed and Canada’s priorities in this policy area are set. At the moment, the government is getting ready to kick-start

By Srdjan Vucetic
Defence and Intelligence, International Security
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Will the New Defence Review be “Open and Transparent”?
- December 21, 2015
By Srdjan Vucetic The Trudeau government is giving itself twelve months to come up with a new defence document—most likely a Strategy, but quite possibly a White Paper combined with a Statement. Apart from setting out Department of National Defence (DND) priorities, activities, and budget estimates for many years to come, this document will also

By Srdjan Vucetic
Defence and Intelligence
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