Given Canada’s unique geopolitical position, long procurement timelines, and complex civil-military-bureaucratic ecosystem, how can we move beyond short-term political cycles to build a truly resilient, forward-looking defence strategy that commands broad public support?
Charles Davies Joined the Expert Series to discuss the need for Canada to rethink its approach to national defence in response to a rapidly changing global security environment. Davies analyzes the impact of the changing global security environment on Canada’s defence posture and strategy, why its essential for Canada to shed its identity as a “small power” punching above its weight and embrace its potential on the world stage, the need for long-term whole-life management of defence capabilities, a long-term, strategic approach to defence industrial policy, the importance of maintaining interoperability with the United States, and ultimately, the need for the government to pivot from a transactional to a strategic approach when it comes to defence management.
Charles Davies’ latest book, True North, Strong? provides a clear framework for understanding Canadian defence, breaking down complex topics like force development, procurement, and governance into accessible components. Davies aims to foster a more informed public debate that drives accountability and ensures Canada’s defence capabilities are robust and aligned with national priorities in an increasingly fragmented and volatile international security environment.
