Will NATO and its allies—including Canada—be able to mobilize quickly enough to address the evolving threat of Russia and China’s alliance? In order to prevent further escalation, political will must support our military capacity.
In today’s Expert Series episode, we hear from Julia Soldatiuk-Westerveld, Justin Massie, Olena Snigyr, and Colonel (Ret’d) Michel Drapeau about the importance of Canadian participation in European security, the need to boost domestic defence industries on both sides of the Atlantic, and how delays for a ceasefire in Ukraine are sending signals to allies and adversaries alike on illiberal changes to the international order.
While Ukraine’s allies in Canada and Europe have come together under the “coalition of the willing,” uncertainty remains around the United States’ commitment to European security. Canada’s security, especially in the Arctic, is still heavily reliant on U.S. support through NORAD—which makes it essential for Canada to increase defence capabilities and work closely with NATO allies.
Canada has a long way to go in preparing its military for its own defence, let alone that of Europe, but history shows that we can rise to the challenge. Without support from the US, Canada and Europe must grow closer in order to end the war in Ukraine and prevent further conflict with Russia from reaching our borders.
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Here are some key takeaways from the discussion:
• Russia and China’s alliance is reshaping the global order, and European countries are struggling to match the scale of the threat posed by this new geopolitical reality.
• NATO—including Canada—is facing gaps in military readiness, and the political will to confront Russia directly is questionable, especially in the absence of clear commitments to engage.
• There is a looming question about whether NATO’s Article 5 will hold its credibility if countries outside the alliance, like Ukraine, are attacked.
• The long-term nature of the war in Ukraine means that military capabilities will need to increase dramatically, but this will take time; societal readiness for war is still a major barrier.
