This panel examines the future of security architecture between Canada and Europe, emphasizing the need for strengthened transatlantic partnerships in the face of growing uncertainty and fractures within the alliance. Volatility in U.S. foreign policy has strained relations with both Canada and Europe, raising doubts about the reliability of American commitments to collective defense. Trade disputes, divergent climate policies, and disagreements over NATO burden-sharing have exposed fault lines that challenge the cohesion of the transatlantic community. These fractures underscore the urgency for Canada and Europe to reinforce their own security cooperation, ensuring resilience regardless of shifts in U.S. priorities.
NATO remains the cornerstone of collective defense, yet the panel will explore how Canada and Europe can deepen collaboration both within NATO and through enhanced coordination with the European Union. By leveraging complementary strengths, these partners can build a joint security consensus to safeguard critical regions such as the Arctic, where climate change, military competition, and economic pressures converge.
Key areas of focus will include cybersecurity, Arctic security, logistics, and resilience against hybrid threats. Cybersecurity and hybrid warfare demand coordinated responses to disinformation, economic coercion, and cyberattacks, highlighting the need for a Transatlantic Task Force dedicated to resilience. Canada’s expertise in Arctic security will be spotlighted as a vital contribution to NATO’s strategic interests, while logistics and supply chain efficiency — facilitated through a NATO Logistics Command Center — will be discussed as essential for operational readiness, with Canada and France positioned to lead.
By situating these themes within the broader context of U.S.–Canada and U.S.–Europe tensions, the panel underscores the necessity of building a robust and adaptive transatlantic security architecture. The discussion will highlight both the challenges and opportunities of reinforcing multilateral defense structures, offering insights into how Canada and Europe can jointly shape a resilient security order. Ultimately, this panel seeks to advance dialogue on the future of transatlantic security, providing a platform for scholars and policymakers to consider innovative strategies for collective defense in a rapidly evolving global landscape.
