CDSN Podcast Network

Welcome to Spring and to a new episode of Battle Rhythm, with co-host Thomas Hughes, Assistant Professor at Mount Allison University. Steve and Thomas discuss European reactions to the US demands for assistance and how this may affect the upcoming NATO Summit in Ankara as Canada meets its 2% of GDP defence investment and the New York Times reporting that the arctic may be too cold for the Canadian Armed Forces to operate in. Today’s Feature Interview is with CDSN Co-Director and Continental Defence expert, Dr. Andrea Charron. Dr. Charron holds a PhD from the Royal Military College of Canada (Department of War Studies). She obtained a Masters in International Relations from Webster University, Leiden, The Netherlands, a Master’s of Public Administration from Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from Queen’s University. Dr. Charron worked for various federal departments including the Canadian Privy Council Office in the Security and Intelligence Secretariat. She is now Professor (IR), Political Studies and Director of the Centre for Defence and Security Studies. Dr. Charron has been featured in the Economist twice for her Canadian foreign policy and NORAD expertise (2019 and 2021) and on the CBC radio show Ideas (2020). She has 4 peer reviewed books (2011, 2022, 2023, 2023) on NORAD, sanctions and 9/11. She is on the editorial board of the Canadian Foreign Policy Journal, the Journal, the Canadian Naval Review and the Army Journal. She has peer-reviewed articles in International Affairs, International Studies, Strategic Studies Quarterly, International Journal, Canadian Foreign Policy Journal and others. Check-Out Thomas’s forthcoming book: Military Exercises and Threat Perception in Europe: NATO, Russia, and the Politics of War Games, 1975–2018 https://www.routledge.com/Military-Exercises-and-Threat-Perception-in-Europe-NATO-Russia-and-the-Politics-of-War-Games-1975-2018/Hughes/p/book/9781041234210

Welcome to a new episode of Battle Rhythm, with co-host Anessa L. Kimball, Ph.D., Professor at Université Laval; Steve Saideman and Anessa discuss perspectives on the Iran war, US Secretary of Defense’s war crimes announcement, and Canada’s role in it as an oil producing middle power. The hosts also discuss PM Carney’s ‘our north, strong and free’ tour to friendly Arctic nations and what the future trade-offs may be for more alliance relationships. In today’s feature interview, Steve speaks with Canada’s Space Division Commander, Chris Horner. Brigadier-General (BGen) Christopher Horner joined the Canadian Armed Forces as an Aerospace Controller on 20 Jun 1998. After graduating from the Royal Military College of Canada and completing his initial training at Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Control Operations in 2003, he began his career as an Air Battle Manager. Over the course of the next decade, BGen Horner held various operational positions from deep within NORAD’s underground complex of Canadian Air Defence Sector, served as an Air Weapons Officer and Evaluator Senior Director with the United States Air Force E-3 AWACS Program, and finally as Mission Crew Commander and Director of Operations within 21 Aerospace Control and Warning Squadron, North Bay. Operating with Joint and Allied forces around the globe, BGen Horner amassed nearly 1,300 hours on the E-3 AWACS including over 430 combat flight hours supporting Operations ENDURING and IRAQI FREEDOM, in counter-narcotics missions supporting Operation CARRIBE, and both in the air and on the ground throughout the United States and Canada actively supporting Operation NOBLE EAGLE counter-terrorism missions. Prior to assuming command of the Canadian Joint Warfare Centre in July 2022, BGen Horner was fortunate enough to command 51 Aerospace Control and Warning Squadron (2013-15) and later serve as Commandant of the Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Control Operations (2017-19). Apart from his operational focus and command appointments, BGen Horner filled various staff roles at 1 Canadian Air Division Headquarters, the Strategic Joint Staff at National Defence Headquarters, and within CAF Strategic Response Team on Sexual Misconduct. Having admitted to once owning a Commodore 64, he returned to operations and was appointed Deputy Joint Force Cyber Component Commander in 2019 where he remained until his selection as Special Advisor to the Commander Canadian Joint Operations Command in 2021. BGen Horner was promoted to his current rank and assumed the role of Commander 3 Canadian Space Division in 2024. BGen Horner holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Economics and Political Science, a Master of Arts in Defence Management and a Master of Science in Leadership. He is a graduate of the Canadian Forces College Joint Command and Staff Program and the United States Air Force Air War College. Together with his spouse and their three boys, BGen Horner tries hard to find balance between hobbies that won’t be fatal and life experiences that make great memories. Of all his adventures, those he shares with his family remain his greatest passion.

This episode examines Canada’s emerging leadership in integrating sex-specific data and human systems integration into military equipment design, with implications for both domestic force readiness and international support to Ukraine. Although women now constitute over 16% of the Canadian Armed Forces and nearly 14% of NATO forces, legacy validation standards for ballistic protection, load carriage systems, and personal protective equipment were historically based on homogeneous male datasets. This structural bias shaped procurement processes and industrial design incentives across the Alliance. Canada has begun to shift this paradigm. Through deliberate incorporation of women’s morphology into testing standards, expanded anthropometric datasets, dynamic biomechanical analysis, and targeted user trials, Canada is moving beyond “general usability” toward survivability-centered design for the full force. Frieda Garcia Castellanos is joined by Dr. Linna Tam-Seto (University of Toronto), Emma Moon (Department of National Defence), and Melanie Lake (Deputy G1 of the NATO Committee on Gender Perspectives). The discussion highlights: ● The integration of women’s morphology — including breast tissue considerations — into global ballistic testing standards ● Canadian field trials evaluating operational performance under varied armor configurations ● NATO Summary of National Reports data demonstrating uneven equipment adaptation across allies ● Emerging battlefield lessons from Ukraine linking equipment fit to fatigue, secondary injuries, and survivability under delayed evacuation Canada’s approach reframes equipment adaptation as a combat effectiveness and casualty - reduction imperative, rather than a symbolic inclusion measure. At stake is a fundamental institutional question: whether defense modernization will continue to operate from a legacy “default body” model, or whether it will deliberately design for the full operational force from the outset. Produced by Frieda Garcia Castellanos

Welcome to a new episode of Battle Rhythm, with co-host Anessa L. Kimball, Ph.D., Professor at Université Laval; Steve Saideman and Anessa discuss recent Canadian public opinion on threat perception and translating this into a defence spending strategy, while Vancouver and other Canadian cities jockey to host a new NATO Bank of Investment for Security and Defence and finally who wants more NATO in the arctic and why. In today’s Feature Interview, Anessa Kimball speaks with Dr. Bohuslav Pernica, Assistant professor in the Department of International Relations and European Studies at Masaryk University while he visits Quebec. Lt. Col. (ret.) Dr. Bohuslav Pernica is an adjunct professor at the Faculty of Social Studies at Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic, a consultant to the Czech Ministry of Defence, and a member of the Czech anti-corruption watchdog (Kverulant). He also served in the Czech Armed Forces from 1992 to 2014. Links: Data Dive with Nik Nanos: Canadians are clamouring for a stronger military: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-data-dive-with-nik-nanos-canadians-are-clamouring-for-a-stronger/

The team at Resilience Plus encourages everyone to try to take time for the things you love and invest in your resilience bank in a conversation with RMC St. Jean’s CWO, Cavel Shebib. This podcast episode was recorded in January 2025, we are reposting for our broader CDSN audience. Chief Petty Officer 1st Class (CPO1) Cavel Shebib enrolled in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) in 1991 as a naval weapons technician in Sydney, N.S. and he feels he has been very lucky to have had the amazing career that he has had thus far. Since 2014 alone, he completed the year-long French course, then sailed for a year each in His Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMCS) Fredericton and Ville de Québec as the Combat Systems Engineering Chief Petty Officer, followed by an appointment as the Atlantic Fleet Combat Systems Engineering Chief. After being in that position for a year, he was promoted to the rank of Chief Petty Officer 1st Class and assumed the role of honors and recognition chief for Maritime Forces Atlantic for a year. In 2018, he was appointed as Coxswain in HMCS St. John’s, following that, in August 2020 he was posted to the Chief Warrant Officer Robert Osside Profession of Arms Institute in Saint-Jean, Que., as the Intermediate Leadership Program and then the Senior Leadership Program Director. Following his two years in Quebec, he was appointed as the Atlantic Fleet Chief in July 2022 and in June of 2024, will be appointed as RMC Saint Jean’s CWO. During his career, he has had several deployments all over Europe and the Middle East, including several Standing NATO Maritime Group One deployments, Operation APOLLO in 2001 and Op REASSURANCE in 2015. He was also involved in Op PERSISTENCE, which was the Canadian Armed Forces’ recovery operation after the Swiss Air crash near Peggy’s Cove, N.S., in 1998. His most memorable deployment was in 2010 when he spent eight months patrolling in the Western Panjwai District of Kandahar Province, Afghanistan as a Tactical CIMIC operator and platoon 2 I/C, ending his tour as a CIMIC Platoon Commander. CPO1 Shebib has completed the Defense and Security Certificate Program through Algonquin College and is an avid reader. He is a huge proponent of the positive impacts of exercise and spending time in the outdoors on our mental health and is an avid hiker. CPO1 Shebib and his partner have 4 children between them. Resilience Plus Podcast: Building Resilience, Driving Success, Promoting Excellence Vision: Building resilience through education, training, and research Mission: Empowering individuals to maximize their productivity and effectiveness, through the effective pursuit of personal and professional goals. We provide individuals with necessary resilience skills and tools that can be immediately applied. Values: We deliver evidence-based resilience education, training, and research guided by our commitment to Excellence and Leadership. Social Media: Resilience Plus on Facebook Resilience Plus on Instagram

Welcome to a new episode of Battle Rhythm. Co-hosts Linna Tam-Seto (Assistant Professor Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy within the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto) and Steve Saideman discuss Trump’s disrespect for Allied contributions to Afghanistan as a strategy, what Canada’s arctic security strategy means for human security in northern communities and if the Canadian Armed Forces is on track to reach it’s recruitment of women target despite a general increase in recruitment. Steve and Hannah Christensen (host of our Field Notes podcast and MA student at NPSIA) catch an interview with 8 of 2025’s HFX Peace With Women Fellows to discuss whole of society peace efforts, evolving security strategies and lessons learned for upholding the international rules based order as they meet with North American security and defence leaders. The Fellowship is a four-week executive study course that equips senior female military officers from NATO and NATO-partner countries for their future leadership positions. HFX launched the Fellowship in 2018 because women in leadership roles in international security leads directly to more peaceful, more equitable and simply better outcomes. The 2025 Fellows include senior officers from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Finland, France, Hungary, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Republic of Korea, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Group 1: Lt. Col. Annukka Ylivaara, ASG Finnish Security Committee; Col. Marie-Eve Tremblay, Canada, Deputy JAG Group 2: Col. Eszter Skrinyár, Head of Communications of the Hungarian Defence Forces; Col. Tracy Allison, Aus, Dep Chief of Staff; Army, Capt. Maryland Ingham, UK, Lead Mil advisory for Africa, Navy Group 3: Col. Emma Thomas, NZ Chief of Staff, Joint Defence Services, Army; Air Commodore Ellen Meeuwsen-Scholten, Netherlands, Personnel, Air and Space; Col. Kim Saenen, Belgium, Director, Competence Center Mobility/Distribution, Army

What does it really mean to work in government — and who gets to shape the decisions that affect our lives? In the first episode of our Spotlight series, we sit down with Bibi Hakim, a parliamentary affairs professional and community advocate whose work bridges Parliament Hill, global diplomacy, and grassroots civic engagement. Bibi has supported federal Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries, staffed international summits, and helped move complex legislation through committee. But her story doesn’t stop inside government. She’s also deeply invested in youth leadership, mental health advocacy, and building political power within Indo-Caribbean and South Asian communities in Canada. In this conversation, we talk about: ● What working in parliamentary affairs actually looks like behind the scenes ● How young professionals can navigate power without losing their values ● Why civic engagement and voter education are essential to a healthy democracy ● Turning mental health advocacy into real policy change — including her role in advancing accessible, affordable, and inclusive services adopted by the federal government in 2021 ● Mentorship, representation, and what it takes for young women to claim space in public life This episode is for anyone who’s ever wondered how policy gets made, how advocacy becomes action, and how to show up — even when the system wasn’t designed with you in mind. Guest: Bibi Hakim Host: Frieda Castellanos Series: Spotlight

Welcome to 2026 and to a new episode of Battle Rhythm with co-host Artur Wilczynski, retired DG of Foreign Intelligence Operations Canada and Senior Fellow GPSIA, University of Ottawa; Artur and Steve Saideman discuss rollercoasters, PM Carney’s meetings in China, Qatar and Davos and what this means for Canada’s new approach to the world, with Greenland being the first test of Canada and Europe’s resolve. While back on the continent, the US administration readies Alaska National Guard member troops with the Army’s 11th Airborne Division in to assist ICE’s strong-arming Minnesotans with impunity. In today’s feature interview, Steve interviews LtGen. Speiser-Blanchet on her approaches to leading and reshaping Canada’s Air Force for the future. Lieutenant-General Jamie Speiser-Blanchet enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces in 1990 and graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) in 1994 with a degree in Computer Engineering. Earning her pilot wings in March 1996, she served as a Rotary Wing Tactical Aviation pilot flying the CH-146 Griffon helicopter at 1 Wing Kingston. Her operational and staff postings include 430 Tactical Helicopter Squadron in Valcartier, 1 Wing Headquarters, 1 Canadian Air Division Headquarters in Winnipeg, and 403 Helicopter Operational Training Squadron in Gagetown. Lieutenant-General Speiser-Blanchet served on multiple deployments as a helicopter pilot to include United Nations and NATO missions in Haiti and Bosnia. She also served as Deputy Commander (Operations) for Joint Task Force-IMPACT in Kuwait in 2019. In Canada, she has deployed on numerous domestic operations in response to regional emergencies and in support to other government agencies. Lieutenant-General Speiser-Blanchet has commanded at multiple levels, 403 Helicopter Operational Training Squadron, the Canadian Forces Intelligence Group, and the Cadets and Junior Canadian Rangers Group. Strategic level appointments include Military Assistant to the Minister of National Defence, Special Advisor to the Chief of the Defence Staff, and Deputy Commander of the RCAF. A graduate of the Joint Command and Staff Programme and the Defence and Strategic Studies Course in Australia, she holds a Master of Defence Studies from RMC and a Master of Politics and Policy from Deakin University. Lieutenant-General Speiser-Blanchet is a Commander of the Order of Military Merit (CMM). She was promoted to her current rank in July 2025 and appointed Commander of the RCAF on July 10, 2025. She is married to Janin Blanchet, a retired tactical aviation pilot, and they have three amazing children, Emma, Zachary and Samuel.

Welcome to 2026 and to a new episode of Battle Rhythm, with co-host Thomas Hughes, Assistant Professor at Mount Allison University. Steve and Thomas discuss the US Intervention in Venezuela, what it means for international law and order and how to incorporate Realist political theory (with a nod to Thucydides) in analyzing this situation with a look at implications for Greenland, Denmark and Canada. Today’s Feature Interview is with Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) Director Colonel Curtis Wright. Col Wright hails from Lethbridge, AB and joined the CAF in June 1990 under the Regular Officer Training Plan graduating from Royal Military College with a Bachelor's degree in History. He received his Navigator Wings in 1996 and joined the Long Range Patrol community flying the CP-140 Aurora. He has amassed over 3500 flying hours on the CP140 during multiple operational tours at both 404 Sqn Greenwood, NS and 407 Sqn Comox, British Columbia. During these tours he has been a NAVCOM, TACNAV, Standards and Training, Aircrew Flight Commander and Deputy Commanding Officer. Col Wright has also had the opportunity to be employed in some extremely interesting staff tours. He was the Current Operations Officer in ACCE P at MARPAC HQ, the Career Manager for LRP and UAS ACSOs in the Air Staff in Air Readiness and DMilC4 as the Career Manager for RCAF LCols. Col Wright also attended ACSC in Shrivenham, UK in 2015. He was the Commanding Officer of 19 Operations Support Squadron in Comox, BC from 2017-2020. In addition to his deployments as crew of the CP140, Col Wright has deployed a number of times in non-flying billets. He deployed in 2009 iso OP ATHENA as the Deputy Commanding Officer of the Canadian Heron UAV Detachment in Kandahar, Afghanistan; in 2012 on OP FOUNDATION to the AFCENT CAOC in Qatar as the Senior National Representative, where he was responsible for the integration of Canadian Strategic Lift assets into the coalition program; in 2019 to OP NEON as the Deputy Commander of the Enforcement Coordination Cell responsible for the enforcement of UN sanctions against DPRK; and most recently in 2020-2021 as the Commander of the Air Task Force – IMPACT in Kuwait. In 2022, Col Wright was promoted to his current rank, changed trades to Air Operations Officer and was posted to CANSOFCOM HQ as the Director Air. In July 2024 he was posted to his present position as the CAOC Director in Winnipeg MB. Additional Links: Wohlforth, William C., ' Realism', in Christian Reus-Smit, and Duncan Snidal (eds), The Oxford Handbook of International Relations (2008; online edn, Oxford Academic, 2 Sept. 2009), https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199219322.003.0007, accessed 6 Jan. 2026 Greenland and NATO: Is It All On the Table?: https://saideman.blogspot.com/2026/01/greenland-and-nato-is-it-all-on-table.html

📌 Content note: This episode discusses sexual violence and atrocities. Listener discretion is advised. Recorded during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, this episode of Bylines & Frontlines confronts one of the most pervasive yet under-addressed crimes of modern conflict: conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV). CRSV is not incidental. It is not inevitable. And it is not a by-product of chaos. As our guests make clear, sexual violence is planned, enabled, and weaponized—used deliberately to terrorize populations, fracture communities, clear territory, discipline armed groups, and, in some cases, advance genocidal intent. In this episode, we explore: CRSV as a tactic and weapon How sexual violence functions as a low-cost, high-impact weapon targeting the human and moral terrain of societies—from Tigray to Ukraine and beyond. Early warning signs and patterns Why mass sexual violence is rarely spontaneous, how it can be detected early, and why failure to act is often a matter of political and operational choice—not lack of information. The military’s role and responsibility From armed forces as first responders, to force protection, to the hard truth of preventing perpetration within one’s own ranks—this conversation examines command responsibility, accountability, and prevention. Children born of war A population rendered invisible by stigma, silence, and policy gaps. We discuss who these children are, why they remain excluded from reparations frameworks, and what governments and international institutions owe them. Survivors, justice, and recognition Including emerging efforts—such as survivor-informed reparations models—that challenge the historical failure to acknowledge sexual violence as a core international crime. Featuring: Emily Prey — Director of the Mass Atrocities & International Law Portfolio and the Gender Policy Portfolio at the New Lines Institute Lieutenant Colonel Melanie Lake, MSM, CD — Canadian Armed Forces; former Commander, Operation UNIFIER; NATO gender leadership expert Commander Tyson Nicholas, RAN — Strategic Military Advisor, UN Women Hosted by: Riel Erickson

Pour ce nouvel épisode de Conseils de sécurité, Aubin Gonzalez Lapos et Sarah-Myriam Martin-Brûlé reçoivent Mathieu Luinaud, consultant en stratégie et expert du secteur spatial. Membre de l’International Institute of Space Law et chercheur associé à la chaire SIRIUS de l’Université Toulouse-1 Capitole, il enseigne aussi l’économie publique et les politiques technologiques à Sciences Po, et est élu de la ville de Paris. Il est l’auteur de plusieurs ouvrages récents, dont L’Industrie spatiale (PUF, 2023), L’Espace et Nous (Dunod, 2025) et Que sais-je ? L’Espace (PUF, 2025). Avec lui, nous explorons la place croissante du spatial dans notre quotidien et dans nos sécurités collectives : *comment l’espace recompose les rapports de puissance et la souveraineté technologique ; *quelles synergies émergent entre les politiques spatiales du Canada, de la France et de l’Australie ; *comment concilier innovation privée et exigences de sécurité nationale ; *et quels leviers permettraient à l’Europe et au Canada de rester compétitifs dans un secteur dominé par les écosystèmes américain et asiatique. Nous abordons aussi le rôle du spatial dans la lutte contre les changements climatiques, la diplomatie environnementale, et les défis majeurs de gouvernance face au risque d’un « Far West » orbital. Enfin, nous discutons de l’avenir du spatial : un champ de rivalité stratégique ou un laboratoire d’interdépendance et d’innovation partagée ? Un épisode qui explore pourquoi l’espace est devenu un enjeu central de sécurité internationale.

Welcome to winter and a new episode of Battle Rhythm. Co-hosts Linna Tam-Seto (Assistant Professor Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy within the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto) and Steve Saideman discuss high school recruitment gains for the Canadian Armed Forces as they pitch a more diverse force and plans for a big boost to numbers in the Reserves while welcoming you to attend our annual Year Ahead event in Ottawa, this year focusing on 7 years of research from the CDSN on topics of security, operations, military personnel and civil-military relations. For Today’s feature interview, co-host Wendy Wong interviews our former Capstone Scholar Madison Schramm about her new book Why Democracies Fight Dictators (Oxford University Press). Madison Schramm is an Assistant Professor with the Department of Political Science at the University of Toronto. She specializes in international security, the domestic politics of foreign policy, and gender and foreign policy. She is particularly interested in leader psychology and conflict decision-making; and gender and leader selection and removal dynamics. She has published manuscripts exploring gender and conflict initiation (Security Studies), democratic constitutional systems and conflict (Political Science Quarterly; Journal of Global Security Studies), and diversity and inclusion in post-conflict states (book chapter, Untapped Power, Oxford University Press).

Welcome to a new episode of Battle Rhythm, with co-host Artur Wilczynski, retired DG of Foreign Intelligence Operations Canada and Senior Fellow GPSIA, University of Ottawa; Artur and Steve Saideman discuss the Director of Canadian Security and Intelligence Service’s Dan Rogers public threat assessment including the intersection of polarization/radicalization and eroding social cohesion, will this improve the resilience of Canadians in the face of growing global competition and risk? Our co-hosts also discuss the Reserve Force of the Future which may or may not include service for Canada’s Public Service, along with the complicated politics of making defence and security decisions for Canada and Canadians. Born in Montreal, Brigadier-General Éric Landry joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1994 and served with the Royal Canadian Hussars during his undergraduate studies in Business Administration. In 1997, following his transfer to the Regular Force, he joined the 12th Canadian Armoured Regiment in Valcartier. He served as a troop lead- er and participated in Op PALLADIUM in Bosnia and Herzegovina with D Squadron. Promoted to Major, he deployed twice to Afghanistan from July 2007 to May 2008 as J35 (Chief of Plans) of Joint Task Force-Kandahar and as the last tank squadron commander from November 2010 to June 2011. For his leadership on this deployment, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. In 2015, he became the 25th Commander of the 12th Canadian Armoured Regiment. He commanded the Regiment during three domestic operations: Op NANOOK and NUNALIVUT in the Canadian North and Op LENTUS during the floods in Quebec in 2017. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel in 2018 and appointed the Deputy Commander of Joint Task Force – IMPACT. Upon his return from the Middle East, he was appointed Chief of Staff for the 1st Canadian Air Division in Winnipeg. He became the 16th Commander of the 2nd Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group on the 21st of August 2020. BGen Landry was promoted to his current rank in June 2023 and took command of 4th Canadian Division in August 2025.

Dans cet épisode, Sarah-Myriam Marti-Brûlé et Aubin Gonzalez Lapos reçoivent Paul Charon, directeur du domaine Influence et Renseignement de l’IRSEM. L’entretien aborde la structuration du champ « renseignement, anticipation et stratégies d’influence » , le rôle croissant de la guerre cognitive, et les défis qu’elle pose aux démocraties. Nous discutons de la tension entre secret et transparence dans les régimes démocratiques, de la centralité des récits dans les stratégies d’influence contemporaines, et des leçons tirées de la guerre en Ukraine face aux offensives narratives russes. L’épisode analyse également l’émergence de nouveaux acteurs, entreprises, plateformes, influenceurs, et les dilemmes que cela pose aux États soucieux de protéger à la fois la sécurité nationale et les libertés fondamentales. Enfin, notre invité revient sur deux ouvrages majeurs : Les mondes du renseignement, qui propose une approche pluridisciplinaire du renseignement, et Baybridge: Anatomy of a Chinese Information Influence Ecosystem, une étude inédite sur l’inefficacité paradoxale de certaines opérations d’influence chinoises. L’entretien se conclut sur les perspectives de coopération entre la France, le Canada et la Francophonie stratégique pour renforcer la résilience informationnelle et défendre un récit démocratique commun.

Welcome to a new episode of Battle Rhythm, with co-host Anessa L. Kimball, Ph.D., Professor at Université Laval; Steve Saideman and Anessa discuss defense spending eagerness in Ottawa and beyond along with Canada and ASEAN and two apologies, one from Prime Minister Mark Carney and another from the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Jennie Carignan on behalf of the Canadian Armed Forces for Racial Discrimination and Racial Harassment of current and past current and former CAF members. In today’s Feature Interview, Steve discusses Navy procurement and recruitment strategies with Canada’s Naval Commander. Vice-Admiral (VAdm) Angus Topshee is the 38th Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). His diverse academic background includes military and civilian institutions on three continents. He has deployed in ships around the world and has accumulated countless sea stories involving pirates, sharks, terrorists, volcanoes, whales, fires, and all the other things which make life at sea a true adventure. The highlight of his time at sea was his far too brief command of Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Algonquin in 2009-2010 and, a close second, his three years in command of Canada’s Pacific Fleet. His shore postings include two tours in the Navy’s Strategy directorate as penance for all of his sea time, three years in command of Canadian Forces Base Halifax, and two years as the Deputy Director, Strategy, Policy, and Plans at NORAD and United States Northern Command Headquarters in Colorado Springs. He also deployed to Afghanistan for all of 2011 as the director of Afghan National Police Training within the NATO Training Mission Afghanistan. Over the course of his career, he has somehow been involved in Arctic issues at every one of his shore postings (except Afghanistan). Before taking command of the RCN in May 2022, VAdm Topshee had the honour and the pleasure of commanding Maritime Forces Pacific and Joint Task Force Pacific, located in Esquimalt, B.C. VAdm Topshee’s career is enabled by his fantastically supportive wife, Audrey, and four tremendous daughters, Amy, Zoë, Charlotte, and Iris.

This special anniversary episode of Bylines & Frontlines, the podcast of Women in International Security – Canada (WIIS-Canada), marks a quarter century since the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) — a landmark moment that changed how the world understands conflict, peacebuilding, and women’s leadership. Hosts Dr. Stéfanie von Hlatky and Dr. Vanessa Brown are joined by two remarkable guests: Jaqueline O’Neill, Canada’s first and now former Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security, and Leona Ahn, Canadian Armed Forces officer, law student, and former Vice Chair of WIIS Canada. Together, they reflect on what this milestone means — personally and politically — and what it takes to keep advancing an agenda that faces both momentum and mounting resistance. From “ships passing in the night” in post-conflict Sudan to “feminist resilience” in moments of backlash, their stories bring the WPS agenda to life through lived experience, policy innovation, and leadership in action. The conversation explores: What real change looks like when policies translate into safety and opportunity for women and marginalized groups; How inclusion, leadership, and accountability intersect across defense, diplomacy, and law; The importance of networks — local and global — in sustaining courage and community; and Why the next phase of WPS must embrace intersectionality, dignity, and systemic change. This episode captures both urgency and hope — a reminder that the WPS agenda was never just about representation, but about transforming the way power, peace, and security are understood and practiced.

Dans cet épisode de Conseils de sécurité, Aubin Gonzalez Lapos et Sarah-Myriam Martin-Brûlé reçoivent le général Alexis Rougier, général de brigade aérienne en charge de la Très Haute Altitude (THA) à l’état-major de l’Armée de l’Air et de l’Espace. Fort d’un parcours marqué par le commandement opérationnel et l’innovation stratégique, le général Rougier revient sur la transformation profonde des armées face à l’émergence du continuum air–espace, à l’évolution des menaces technologiques et à la redéfinition de la supériorité aérienne. L’entretien explore les enjeux de souveraineté, de sécurité et de résilience dans un environnement où les domaines terrestre, maritime, aérien, cyber et spatial sont désormais étroitement interconnectés. Le général partage également sa vision des coopérations internationales, notamment entre la France et le Canada, qui renforcent leurs liens dans les domaines de la défense aérienne, de la surveillance spatiale et de l’innovation duale. Entre intelligence artificielle, hypervélocité, robotique et guerre électronique, cet épisode questionne la manière dont les armées peuvent préserver un avantage stratégique durable tout en maintenant un ancrage humain, éthique et décisionnel au cœur du commandement militaire.

Welcome to spooky season and to a new season of Battle Rhythm, with co-hosts Dr. Wendy H. Wong (Professor of Political Science and Principal’s Research Chair at the University of British Columbia) and Steve Saideman. Steve shares insights from the German-Norweigan consortium to supply submarines to Canada and he and Wendy discuss the defence diplomacy involved along with protesting and what it means for democracy. In today’s feature interview, Wendy interviews Dr. Jessica F. Green, they discuss her book Existential Politics and her research focused on global governance, the politics of decarbonization, carbon pricing, and non-state actors. Jessica Green is a professor of Political Science at the University of Toronto. She is also cross-appointed in the School of Environment. She has previously held positions at Case Western University (in Cleveland, OH) and New York University (in NYC). Her newly released book, Existential Politics, explains why the Paris Agreement is Failing. Governments have misdiagnosed the political problem of climate change, focusing relentlessly on measuring, reporting, and trading emissions. This technical approach of “managing tons” ignores the ways that climate change and climate policy will revalue assets, creating winners and losers. Policies such as net zero, carbon pricing, and offsets all cater to the losers—owners of fossil assets. But in reality, climate change is a political problem, not a technical one. Climate politics should be understood as existential—creating conflicts that arise when some actors face the prospect of the devaluation or elimination of their assets or competition from the creation of new ones. Fossil asset owners, such as oil and gas companies and electric utilities, stand to lose trillions in the energy transition. Thus, they are fighting to slow decarbonization and preserve the value of their assets. Green asset owners, who will be the basis of the decarbonized economy, are fewer in number and relatively weak politically. Governments should use international tax, finance, and trade institutions to create new green asset owners and constrain fossil asset owners. https://www.greenprofgreen.com/about Join us in Ottawa on November 13th at 6pm at the Lord Elgin Hotel, where Dr. Green will hold a public launch of her book and discussion about her research.

In this powerful episode of Bylines and Frontlines, hosts Frieda Castellanos and Dr. Colleen Bell take on one of the most urgent global issues of our time—gender-based violence in contexts where states are unresponsive or complicit. Recorded on the eve of Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the discussion bridges histories of harm and the ongoing struggle for justice. Our guests bring deep expertise and lived commitment to this topic: Murwarid Ziayee, Senior Director at Right to Learn Afghanistan, reflects on how women’s rights and safety have been systematically eroded under Taliban rule—and the quiet networks still keeping hope alive. Sheila North, journalist, filmmaker, and former Grand Chief of MKO, shares hard-won insights from her work on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada, including her acclaimed documentary 1200+ and memoir My Privilege, My Responsibility. Soma Bidarpour, Kurdish scholar and PhD researcher at the University of Ottawa, unpacks how authoritarian regimes in Iran and Afghanistan weaponize control over women’s bodies as a form of state violence. Together, they examine how impunity is sustained, how journalism and advocacy can shift narratives, and how communities across Afghanistan, Iran, and Canada are resisting and reshaping their futures. Listeners will come away with both structural insights and concrete actions—from survivor-centered reporting to data sovereignty, legal reform, and transnational solidarity.

Welcome to autumn and to a new season of Battle Rhythm, with co-host Thomas Hughes, Assistant Professor at Mount Allison University. Steve and Thomas discuss the US Department of War/Defence’s public GOFO lecture, National Guard deployments and Thomas reports on the reactions in Belgium as drones fly over NATO Airspace, finally what are we learning from all of this when it comes to theory? (A: the Huntingtonian model is out) Today’s feature interview is with Michelle Douglas, Michelle is a veteran, a former military officer, a survivor of Canada’s “LGBT Purge” and an activist in the movement to seek legal equality for the 2SLGBTQ+ community over the past 30 years. She is a bridge-builder. Michelle served as an officer in the Canadian Armed Forces from 1986 to 1989. Despite a distinguished service record, she was honorably discharged after being deemed “Not Advantageously Employable Due to Homosexuality.” After being fired by the military, Michelle’s landmark legal challenge in 1992 ended Canada’s formalized discriminatory policy against LGBT members of the military. This experience launched a decades-long commitment to volunteerism and activism for Michelle. She has been a part of many legal challenges to seek equality for the 2SLGBTQI+ community. Professionally, Michelle had a 30-year career in public service. She retired from the federal Department of Justice in 2019 where she held the position of Director of International Relations. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the LGBT Purge Fund. Michelle is a member of the board of directors of the Michaëlle Jean Foundation. She was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 and was presented with the Canada Pride Citation in 2023. She was recently named an Honorary Colonel in the Canadian Armed Forces; she is assigned to the organization known as the Chief Professional Conduct and Culture. Michelle is a graduate of Carleton University.

In this episode, we’re diving into what may be one of the most debated topics in security circles today: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. For some, it’s only a lightning rod. For us, and especially for our guests, it’s foundational to how Canada thinks about Women, Peace and Security. Joining our WIIS-C co-hosts, Dr Colleen Bell and Frieda Garcia Castellanos, are two guests who bring both operational credibility and deep policy expertise to this conversation: Dr. Sara Greco, a political scientist with experience across the Defence Team—from advising senior leaders, to teaching at the Canadian Forces College, to shaping policy within Chief Military Personnel. She is also a WIIS-Canada board member and a research collaborator with the Canadian Defence and Security Network. And, LCol Riel “Guns” Erickson, one of Canada’s first five female fighter pilots. Over nearly three decades in uniform, she has flown the CF-18 Hornet, trained the next generation of pilots, and made history intercepting Russian bombers in Canadian airspace. Today, she serves as the CAF Liaison Officer to Canada’s Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security. Together, we’ll explore what EDI and WPS look like when they move off the page and into practice what works, what resists change, and why Canada’s experience stands out at a time when some of our allies are moving in the opposite direction.

Welcome to autumn and to a new season of Battle Rhythm, with co-host Artur Wilczynski, retired DG of Foreign Intelligence Operations Canada and Senior Fellow GPSIA, University of Ottawa; Artur and Steve discuss Russian incursions on NATO airspace, the legacy of Charlie Kirk and implications for the US, Canada and the world; along with Canada’s official recognition of the state of Palestine and the Netanyahu effect. Today's Feature Interview is with co-author of the book (with Stephen Saideman and David P. Auerswald) "Overseen or Overlooked? Legislators, Armed Forces and Democratic Accountability" Philippe Lagassé is associate professor and the Barton Chair at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs. His research focuses on defence policy and military procurement, as well as civil-military relations and the role of institutions in international policymaking in the Westminster tradition. He teaches courses on defence policy and strategic studies. Between 2012-2014 he served as a member of the Independent Review Panel overseeing the evaluation of options to replace Canada’s CF-18 fighter aircraft, and he is currently a member of the Independent Review Panel for Defence Acquisition within the Department of National Defence.

Col Guillaume Tremblay joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1999 under the Regular Officer Training Plan and graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston in 2004 with a double major in Business Administration and Politics and Economics (B.A.). Col Tremblay completed the Air Traffic Control course at the Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Control Operations in Cornwall in 2005 and operationally qualified as Tower Controller at 3 Wing Bagotville in 2006. In 2008, Col Tremblay was posted to 1 Canadian Air Division in Winnipeg where he was employed in the Strategic Plans and the Air Mobility Divisions. In 2010, Col Tremblay returned to 3 Wing Bagotville as the Chief-Controller of the Military Aerodrome Control Unit and was promoted to the rank of Major in 2012. He served as the 3 Wing Air Traffic Control Officer until 2014 and was then deployed to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar as the Canadian Liaison Officer at the US Central Command Combined Aerospace Operations Centre under OP FOUNDATION. In 2015, Col Tremblay was selected to attend the Joint Command and Staff Program at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto where he completed a Master of Defence Studies (MDS). In July 2016, Col Tremblay took command of the Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre Atlantic in Halifax. Promoted to lieutenant-colonel in 2017, he held the position of Gender Advisor to the Commander of Canadian Joint Operations Command in Ottawa until June 2018. In July 2018, Col Tremblay was given the privilege of being the first Royal Canadian Air Force officer to command the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. After commanding the largest training establishment of the Canadian Armed Forces for two years, Col Tremblay was posted to the NORAD Headquarters in Colorado Springs as the Executive Assistant to the NORAD Deputy Commander. Promoted to his current rank in 2021, Col Tremblay was appointed Chief of Staff for the formation of Canadian Element NORAD for a period of two years. On June 27th 2023, Col Tremblay was honored to assume command of the Royal Military College Saint-Jean. Col Tremblay also holds a master degree in Organizational Management (M.Sc.) from the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi. Throughout his career, Col Tremblay has been actively involved in the Canadian Armed Forces Regional and International (CISM) volleyball programs.

Welcome back to class and to a new season of Battle Rhythm, with co-host Anessa L. Kimball, Ph.D., Professor at Université Laval; Steve Saideman and Anessa discuss The United States president renaming the Department of Defence to the Department of War after destroying a boat in the Caribbean; the Canadian Department of National Defence is ready to spend as it commits to extend the CAF’s mission in Latvia along with deploying fighter pilots in a NATO exercise. In today's feature interview, our Post-doctoral Fellow, Dr. Manaswini Ramkumar interviews Dr. Sarah Meharg and Major-General (Retired) Craig Aitchison, co-editors of the Canadian Military Journals Special Issues on Human Security: https://www.journal.forces.gc.ca/cmj-25.2-toc-en.html Dr. Sarah Jane Meharg is Adjunct Professor at the Royal Military College of Canada and the Senior Research Associate at the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre in Ottawa Canada. She is Canada's leading post-conflict reconstruction expert and specializes in the research and implementation of advanced technologies for reconstruction initiatives. Dr Meharg focuses on economic acceleration in regions experiencing economic transitions, including post-conflict and post-disaster environments such as Afghanistan, Haiti and the Balkans. Dr Meharg has received numerous commendations for developing her unique theory of conflict- identicide (1997) -which defines the precursor stages of genocide. Major-General (Retired) Craig Aitchison is proud to have served Canada for over 38 years. A passionate and lifelong learner, he has earned a certificate in Culinary Arts from Saint Lawrence College, an undergraduate in Business Administration from the University of New Brunswick, and master’s degrees from Royal Military College and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. He deployed overseas five times including Afghanistan and Iraq, and commanded the Infantry School, Combat Training Centre and the Canadian Defence Academy. He was also very fortunate to act as the Deputy Commanding General for Operations for U.S. Army Alaska, now 11th Airborne Division (Arctic Angels). In 2023 he was invested into the Order of Military Merit at the rank of Commander. He has also been twice (2019 and 2021) awarded the U.S. Legion of Merit at the rank of Officer. His extensive experience in the military training and education system has created a very strong foundation and focused energy toward leader development, strategy development and design thinking.

Welcome to Bylines and Frontlines, the official podcast of Women in International Security - Canada. In this inaugural episode of Bylines and Frontlines, WIIS Canada Chair Erin Koenig and CDSN Director Dr. Steve Saideman sit down with Dr. Stefanie von Hlatky, founder of WIIS Canada to trace the organization’s roots, reflect on the current moment, and explore where it’s headed next. Stéfanie von Hlatky is the Canada Research Chair on Gender, Security, and the Armed Forces, Full Professor of political studies at Queen’s University, and Fellow with the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation. Her latest books are Deploying Feminism: The Role of Gender in NATO Military Operations (2022) and Total Defence Forces in the 21st Century (2023). She is the founder of Women in International Security – Canada and the Honorary Colonel of the Princess of Wales’ Own Regiment. This episode lays the groundwork for a podcast series that goes behind the headlines and into the stories of those changing the field.

In episode 39 of season 3, co-hosts Linna Tam-Seto (Assistant Professor Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy within the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto) and Steve Saideman discuss the lack of women CAF members on current Peacekeeping postings and the challenges of committing Canada’s army to additional operations. They also discuss the implications of a new story of 5 CAF members suspended for hateful behavior and the impacts this may have on recruitment targets in the future. In today's feature interview, Steve discusses oversight and procurement with former Deputy Minister of Defence, Jody Thomas. Jody Thomas recently retired from the federal public service as National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister. Jody has broad and varied experience working at senior levels in the Public Service and in a series of increasingly demanding security operations roles. She joined the naval reserves at age 17 and was among the first women to serve on a Canadian military vessel. Jody began her public service career in 1988 when she was appointed Chief of Business Planning and Administration with Public Works and Government Services Canada’s Atlantic Region. From 1995-2010, she held increasingly senior roles at Passport Canada, culminating in Chief Operating Officer. In 2010, Ms. Thomas joined the Canadian Coast Guard where she held the positions of Deputy Commissioner of Operations and Commissioner of the Coast Guard. In March 2017, she joined the Department of National Defence where she served as Senior Associate Deputy Minister. She was appointed as Deputy Minister of National Defence in October 2017, a role in which she served until January 2022. Jody holds a Bachelor of Arts from Carleton University.

Col Guillaume Tremblay joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1999 under the Regular Officer Training Plan and graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston in 2004 with a double major in Business Administration and Politics and Economics (B.A.). Col Tremblay completed the Air Traffic Control course at the Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Control Operations in Cornwall in 2005 and operationally qualified as Tower Controller at 3 Wing Bagotville in 2006. In 2008, Col Tremblay was posted to 1 Canadian Air Division in Winnipeg where he was employed in the Strategic Plans and the Air Mobility Divisions. In 2010, Col Tremblay returned to 3 Wing Bagotville as the Chief-Controller of the Military Aerodrome Control Unit and was promoted to the rank of Major in 2012. He served as the 3 Wing Air Traffic Control Officer until 2014 and was then deployed to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar as the Canadian Liaison Officer at the US Central Command Combined Aerospace Operations Centre under OP FOUNDATION. In 2015, Col Tremblay was selected to attend the Joint Command and Staff Program at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto where he completed a Master of Defence Studies (MDS). In July 2016, Col Tremblay took command of the Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre Atlantic in Halifax. Promoted to lieutenant-colonel in 2017, he held the position of Gender Advisor to the Commander of Canadian Joint Operations Command in Ottawa until June 2018. In July 2018, Col Tremblay was given the privilege of being the first Royal Canadian Air Force officer to command the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. After commanding the largest training establishment of the Canadian Armed Forces for two years, Col Tremblay was posted to the NORAD Headquarters in Colorado Springs as the Executive Assistant to the NORAD Deputy Commander. Promoted to his current rank in 2021, Col Tremblay was appointed Chief of Staff for the formation of Canadian Element NORAD for a period of two years. On June 27th 2023, Col Tremblay was honored to assume command of the Royal Military College Saint-Jean. Col Tremblay also holds a master degree in Organizational Management (M.Sc.) from the Université du Québec à Chicoutimi. Throughout his career, Col Tremblay has been actively involved in the Canadian Armed Forces Regional and International (CISM) volleyball programs.

In our thirty-eighth episode of Battle Rhythm season 3, Dr. Wendy H. Wong (Professor of Political Science and Principal’s Research Chair at the University of British Columbia) and Steve Saideman discuss Canada’s plans to recognize Palestine as a State while other options are still on the table (including an embargo on weapons sales to Israel); the prospects of getting to a two-state solution along with examining the lessons learned from the 2008 global economic fallout and Canada’s current guns vs butter dilemma. In today’s feature interview, Steve interviews Major-General Dave Yarker, Commander of Canadian Armed Forces Cyber Command (CAFCYBERCOM). Major General (MGen) Dave Yarker joined the Canadian Forces in 1989, graduating from the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) Kingston in 1993. Following completion of Graduate studies and Signals officer Training in 1996 he served with 2 Bde as a Signals Officer in both 427 Tactical Helicopter Squadron and 2 Combat Engineer Regiment. He has been employed as staff in project management, joint, operational and strategic communications planning and deployed as the Canadian J6 to both Kosovo and Afghanistan. He has had the honour of command at 2 Canadian Mechanised Brigade Group Headquarters and Signals Squadron, the Canadian Forces Network Operations Centre, and the Canadian Forces Information Operations Group. Since 2010, he has had the good fortune to have been employed in the cyber operations field, commanding at Unit and Formation levels as well as holding key staff and liaison positions including with United States Cyber Command and Canada’s Communications Security Establishment. In 2022, he was then appointed as Director General Information Management Operations and the Joint Force Cyber Component Commander which became the Director General Cyber and Command and Control Information System Operation in 2024. On promotion to his current rank, he was appointed Cyber Force Commander He holds undergraduate degrees in Engineering Physics and History, along with master’s degrees in Engineering Physics and Defence Studies. Major General Yarker is married and the couple lives in Ottawa with their son.

Dans cet épisode, Aubin Gonzales Lapos et Sarah-Myriam Martin-Brûlé reçoivent l’Amiral Xavier Païtard. L'Amiral revient sur un parcours exceptionnel, du cockpit d’un chasseur à la planification stratégique de l’OTAN. Nous explorons avec lui l’évolution du rôle de la France dans l’architecture de sécurité euro-atlantique, les enseignements tirés de missions de combat en zones complexes, et les défis actuels liés aux capacités futures, à la cyberdéfense et à la dissuasion à l’ère des conflits hybrides. Une conversation riche sur l’innovation navale, le rôle de la marine dans un monde polarisé, et les responsabilités partagées entre la France et le Canada en matière de sécurité collective.

In the 37th episode of Battle Rhythm, Season 3, with co-host Anessa L. Kimball, Ph.D., Professor at Université Laval; Steve and Anessa discuss the challenges of teaching US Foreign Policy in the Trump 2.0 Era, Canada’s pledge on increased defence spending, recent CAF recruitment successes and persistent challenges in the midst of a culture change process to modernize the institution with a more inclusive military reflective of a liberal democracy (i.e. no more white supremacists and or extremists generally). In today’s feature interview, Thomas Hughes interviews CDSN Co-Director Stephane Roussel about the long arc of researching Canada’s defence and security partnership with the US and if it can help us assess what is to come.

Dans cet épisode, Aubin Gonzales Lapos et Sarah-Myriam Martin-Brûlé accueillent l’Amiral (2S) Alain Coldefy, ancien Major Général des Armées, directeur des opérations à l’État-major de la Marine, et auteur de Le Sel et les Étoiles. Fort de plus de quarante ans de carrière, il revient sur son parcours exceptionnel, entre commandement en mer et hautes responsabilités stratégiques, en France et à l’international. L’Amiral partage ses réflexions sur la tension entre l’identité de marin et celle de stratège, et partage ses analyses des grands enjeux maritimes actuels : piraterie, sécurisation des routes commerciales, rivalités entre grandes puissances, coopération multilatérale et militarisation de l’Arctique. L’épisode explore aussi les nouvelles menaces en mer – cyberattaques, sabotage d’infrastructures, surveillance offshore – ainsi que le rôle que peut jouer le Canada, notamment dans l’espace arctique. Enfin, il adresse un message à la relève : comment préparer une nouvelle génération d’analystes et de décideurs face à un environnement naval en profonde transformation.

In the 36th episode of Battle Rhythm, Season 3, Steve Saideman and co-host Thomas Hughes, Assistant Professor at Mount Allison University discuss the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ Act and it's effects on Canadian defence, along with the complications of continental missile defence systems and nuclear deterrence. They also breakdown some of the budgeting allocations for NORAD Modernization and NATO defence commitments, and how PM Carney will have to reconcile both Trump and the Canadian public’s different expectations of behavior. Steve and former co-host extraordinaire, Stéfanie von Hlatky continue this discussion in The Hague during the NATO Summit. For analysis on the Summit from Stéfanie von Hlatky & Gaëlle Rivard Piché can be found here: https://cdainstitute.ca/nato-agreed-to-5-but-is-the-public-on-board/

New Podcast Release: Exploring Spirituality and Leadership with LGen (Ret’d) Roméo Dallaire We are pleased to share that the podcast episodes featuring LGen (Ret’d) Roméo Dallaire are now live on our internal network and will be publicly released via the Canadian Defence and Security Network (CDSN). These conversations delve into the profound intersection of spirituality, service, and leadership within military contexts, offering reflections that are both intellectually engaging and deeply human. We are deeply grateful for the exceptional leadership, scientific rigour, and unwavering dedication of Dr. Meaghan Wilkin, as well as the remarkable engagement, professionalism, and insight of our Officer Cadet Ambassadors, members of the Resilience Plus Podcast Team. The Resilience Plus Team also extends heartfelt thanks to the Royal Military Colleges Alumni Association Inc. for their ongoing financial support, which has made the podcast possible since 2021.

In our thirty-fifth episode of Battle Rhythm season 3, Dr. Wendy H. Wong (Professor of Political Science and Principal’s Research Chair at the University of British Columbia) and Steve Saideman take a deep dive into the security situation in Los Angeles and the role of the National Guard along with Ukraine strikes on Russia and tech war implications. Today’s feature interview is with Daveed Gartenstein-Ross and Eleanor Ross of Valens Games to discuss how simulations can better prepare decision makers in unpredictable situations. Battle Rhythm will take a break for a bit as we prepare for our upcoming Summer Institute, we will return on July 8th, after we celebrate Canada Day! For more information on tensions in the US Civil-Military relationship watch out for CDSN in the news, including this: www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opin…vil-war-rcna212215

Dans ce 54e épisode du Conseil de sécurité, Laurent Borzillo et Sarah-Myriam Martin-Brûlé reçoivent Colin Gérard, docteur en géopolitique et spécialiste reconnu des stratégies d’influence informationnelle russes dans le cyberespace francophone. Lauréat du prix spécial de l’Association pour les Études sur la Guerre et la Stratégie en 2023, il a soutenu une thèse à l’Institut français de géopolitique (Université Paris 8) consacrée aux acteurs, aux pratiques et aux récits visant à orienter l’opinion publique française. Aujourd’hui chef d’équipe à VIGINUM – le service de vigilance contre les ingérences numériques étrangères rattaché au Secrétariat général de la défense et de la sécurité nationale (SGDSN) – Colin Gérard poursuit également ses recherches en tant que chercheur associé au centre GEODE (Géopolitique de la Datasphère). Ses travaux croisent méthodes géopolitiques et techniques d’OSINT pour documenter les campagnes d’influence, reconstituer les chaînes de diffusion de contenus, et analyser les reconfigurations de l’écosystème informationnel russe depuis l’invasion de l’Ukraine. Dans cet entretien, il revient sur les mutations profondes du dispositif d’influence russe – marquées par la fragmentation, la privatisation partielle des opérations et leur redéploiement vers des terrains comme l’Afrique francophone. L’analyse des opérations Lakhta et Doppelgänger illustre la montée en puissance de dispositifs clandestins, fondés sur l’usurpation d’identité et la sous-traitance. La discussion aborde également la montée des "murs informationnels", la circulation différenciée des récits dans les démocraties libérales, et les réponses possibles. Enfin, Colin Gérard revient sur les similitudes et différences observées entre la France et le Canada face à ces menaces. Un épisode essentiel pour comprendre les formes contemporaines d’ingérence numérique, les enjeux de souveraineté informationnelle, et les défis communs posés aux démocraties.

Welcome to a new episode of the Field Report's Spotlight Series, brought to you by the students of the 2024 NATO Field School. The Spotlight Series will shine a light on key issues and threats in the landscape of security and defence through expert analysis and in-depth discussions. Disinformation is a hot topic in political discourse—but, what is it? In this instalment of the Field Report, Mishael Abu-Samhan, Sasha Kardos-Machado, Romeo Lions, Grant Mathews, and Emma Nash explore disinformation within Russia. Frequently, Russia is seen as a mass exporter of disinformation, though the biggest consumers are its own population. Tune as we go through the historical context and current tactics of Russian propaganda alongside Sophie Sacilotto, a 2022 NATO Field School alumnus and Russian FIMI research analyst. This episode was created during the 2024 NATO Field School by: Mishael Abu-Samhan, a fourth-year Political Science and Philosophy double major studying at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, Canada. Through his entrepreneurial and academic endeavors, he has been actively contributing to his local, national, and international community. Sasha Kardos-Machado, the Communications and Outreach Coordinator for the NATO Field School. She holds a Bachelor Honours in International Studies and Political Studies from Bishop’s University, and currently works in Ottawa, for PAA Advisory | Conseils in their defence practice. Romeo Lions, a French international student who graduated with high distinction from the University of British Columbia (UBC), earning a Bachelor's degree in International Relations. He is an incoming student in the LSE-PKU Double Degree in MSc International Affairs, a joint master's program between the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and Peking University (PKU), where he will further his focus on global governance, diplomacy, and international security. Grant Mathews, a third-year student at the University of Rochester College of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering, where he is majoring in International Relations with minors in Arabic and Religion. He participated in the 2024 NATO Field School and Simulation Program. He comes from Annapolis, Maryland. Emma Nash, a fifth-year student studying Political Science with a minor study in Social Data Analytics at Simon Fraser University. She is heavily involved in the student community through her involvement with the SFU Political Science Union and SFU Social Data Student Union. Our special guest is Sophie Sacilotto, an alumna of the 2022 NATO Field School and recent Masters graduate from the University of Toronto - Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, Centre of European and Eurasian Studies. Sophie currently works as a Research Analyst focusing on Russian FIMI. To access the report Sophie discusses, you can find it here: https://stratcomcoe.org/publications/war-on-all-fronts-how-the-kremlins-media-ecosystem-broadcasts-the-war-in-ukraine/301 With special thanks to our Spotlight Series producer, Morgan Cowley.

Dans ce nouvel épisode du balado Conseil de sécurité, Laurent Borzillo et Sarah-Myriam Martin-Brûlé reçoivent Daniela Irrera, professeure de science politique et de relations internationales, spécialiste reconnue des acteurs non étatiques, de la gouvernance mondiale, des conflits armés et des politiques de sécurité. Elle enseigne aujourd’hui au Centre des hautes études de défense de l’Université nationale de défense à Rome, ainsi qu’à l’Académie de l’OSCE à Bichkek, et contribue activement à la formation des futurs experts civils et militaires européens au sein du Collège européen de sécurité et de défense (CESD) à Bruxelles. Au fil de cette entrevue, Daniela Irrera revient sur ses activités d’enseignement à l’Académie de l’OSCE à Bichkek, où elle forme de jeunes experts aux enjeux de sécurité et de diplomatie. Elle présente également son jeu de simulation Game of Peace, primé au niveau européen, qui permet d’explorer de manière concrète les mécanismes de négociation, de résolution de conflits et de médiation dans les relations internationales. L’entretien revient sur plusieurs projets de recherche auxquels Daniela Irrera a contribué, portant sur des thématiques variées telles que la propagande russe hors de l’Occident, les formes contemporaines d’autoritarisme, ainsi que les liens entre commerce illicite, sécurité et durabilité. Elle évoque notamment les initiatives MORDOR, sur les dictatures actuelles, et GLITSS, sur les circuits illicites mondialisés, offrant un éclairage sur les mutations géopolitiques, technologiques et narratives qui façonnent aujourd’hui les relations internationales. La discussion se poursuit autour de ses travaux sur les ONG dans les zones de gouvernance fragile, l’usage détourné des technologies numériques par les groupes criminels, et la nécessité d’élaborer des réponses européennes adaptées à la diversité des acteurs transnationaux. Daniela Irrera revient également sur le concept de triple nexus – articulant aide humanitaire, développement et consolidation de la paix – qu’elle mobilise dans ses recherches sur les réponses internationales aux crises systémiques. Elle souligne enfin le rôle que peut jouer le Canada dans la construction d’un modèle de coordination internationale plus cohérent et efficace. Un échange riche et transversal qui permet de mieux comprendre la complexité contemporaine des menaces, la transformation des acteurs non étatiques, et les leviers encore disponibles pour faire face à un monde fragmenté, traversé par de multiples zones grises.

In episode 34 of season 3, Co-hosts Linna Tam-Seto (Assistant Professor Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy within the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto) and Steve Saideman discuss recruitment challenges for CAF’s new online system, Military Police watchdog holds a public hearing on a tragic suicide related to mishandling a sexual misconduct case, and Trump vs Harvard - what this means for higher education broadly. Steve poses questions to recently retired Gen. Wayne Eyre on lessons learned as Chief of Defence Staff and challenges ahead in defending Canada.

Pour ce 52ᵉ épisode, Laurent Borzillo et Sarah-Myriam Martin-Brûlé s’entretiennent avec Renée Larivière, directrice de la gestion des programmes chez Interpeace. À ce poste, elle assure le leadership stratégique et la supervision des opérations de consolidation de la paix. Au fil de la discussion, nous abordons l’influence de sa formation en sciences de l’environnement sur son approche de la gestion des conflits, ainsi que ses expériences de terrain au Pérou, au Pakistan et en Indonésie. Renée Larivière nous présente également la mission d’Interpeace, son rôle dans la consolidation de la paix, les principaux défis auxquels l’organisation est confrontée aujourd’hui, et la manière dont son approche se distingue de celle des grandes institutions internationales comme l’ONU — en explorant les avantages et les limites de cette différenciation. Elle nous explique aussi le concept original de la "diplomatie par la nourriture", partage ses réflexions sur la montée de la polarisation, la persistance des conflits prolongés, et l’évolution des efforts internationaux en matière de consolidation de la paix. Nous concluons l’épisode en discutant du rôle du Canada sur la scène internationale en matière de paix : quelle est sa contribution actuelle et dans quels domaines pourrait-elle être renforcée ?

In episode 33 of Battle Rhythm season 3, with co-host Artur Wilczynski, retired DG of Foreign Intelligence Operations Canada and Senior Fellow GPSIA, University of Ottawa; Artur and Steve discuss PM Carney’s new cabinet choices for national security and defence files; David McGuinty as Minister of National Defence, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, and the issues they will face delivering on campaign promises including managing the US relationship, arctic defence, and procurement. Todays feature interview is with Margriet Vonno, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ottawa and Witold Dzielski, Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Canada, in advance of our event to discuss NATO and Euro-Atlantic security on May 22nd at Carleton University.

Dans ce 51e épisode, Laurent Borzillo et Sarah-Myriam Martin-Brûlé reçoivent Romain Le Cour Grandmaison, docteur en science politique de l’Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne et expert senior à la Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime. À la croisée de la recherche, du terrain et de la stratégie, notre invité revient sur son parcours singulier et partage ses réflexions sur la production contemporaine du savoir en matière de sécurité. Il présente également le mandat et les actions de la Global Initiative, tout en proposant une lecture renouvelée de la violence criminelle — non pas comme une rupture de l’ordre, mais comme une forme de gouvernance. L’échange aborde en profondeur la manière dont les rapports entre l’État, l’armée, la police et les groupes armés non étatiques se reconfigurent dans des contextes comme le Mexique ou Haïti. Il explore également le rôle des diasporas, des flux financiers et des dynamiques transnationales dans la consolidation de la violence, et questionne la portée — et les limites — d’une réponse multilatérale ou militaire dans un pays comme Haïti. Plus largement, la discussion s’élargit à l’impact des trafics transnationaux (armes, drogues, personnes) sur les frontières classiques de la défense et de la sécurité. Enfin, l’épisode se conclut sur une réflexion essentielle : comment sortir du prisme exclusivement répressif face à la criminalité organisée, et quelles alternatives politiques ou sociales pourraient être envisagées?

In episode 32 of season 3 (recorded on voting day), Co-hosts Linna Tam-Seto (Assistant Professor Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy within the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto) and Steve Saideman discuss Canada’s federal election and Conservative anti-woke messaging along with how the next government can improve CAF recruitment and retention issues through a focus on healthcare, housing and procurement. Today's Feature Interview is with Michael Collins – Executive Director, The Americas, Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) https://www.economicsandpeace.org/about/ This year will be the 12th edition of the Global Terrorism Index (GTI). The report provides a comprehensive summary of the key global trends and patterns in terrorism over the last decade. The calculation of the GTI score considers not only deaths but also incidents, hostages and injuries from terrorism, weighted over a five-year period. The report is produced using event records on terrorist attacks since 1 January 2007. The current terrorism dataset contains over 66,000 terrorist incidents for the period 2007 until today. The GTI ranks 163 countries based on four indicators weighted over five years. A country’s annual GTI score is based on a unique scoring system to account for the relative impact of incidents in the year.

Pour ce 50ième épisode du balado Conseils de sécurité, Laurent Borzillo et Sarah-Myriam Martin-Brûlé reçoivent le Brigadier-général Éric Laforest, officier chevronné en opérations internationales et en planification stratégique, membre des Forces armées canadiennes depuis 1991. Tout au long de sa carrière, le Brigadier-général Laforest a exercé des responsabilités de commandement aux niveaux du peloton, de la compagnie, du bataillon et de la force opérationnelle. Il a notamment dirigé des troupes en Haïti, en Afghanistan et en Lettonie dans le cadre de l’opération REASSURANCE. Fort de plusieurs affectations stratégiques à Ottawa et dans des instances internationales, il occupe depuis juillet 2023 le poste de chef des plans militaires (J5) au SHAPE, siège opérationnel de l'OTAN en Europe. Lors de cette entrevue, il revient sur les enseignements tirés de ses expériences de commandement opérationnel dans des contextes variés. Il partage son analyse des défis rencontrés sur le terrain, notamment pour maintenir la cohésion de forces multinationales. Sarah-Myriam et Laurent évoquent également les priorités stratégiques identifiées depuis sa prise de poste au SHAPE, ainsi que son analyse de l’évolution de la menace russe, à la lumière de son expérience en Europe de l’Est. Cet épisode permet également d’aborder les défis de la coopération militaire au sein de l'OTAN et les contributions spécifiques et notables des Forces armées canadiennes à l'architecture de défense collective.

General (ret) K. Bartels, born in 1952, joined the Danish Army in 1972 as a private. He has attended the Royal Danish Military Academy, the Royal Danish Defence College, l´École Supérieure de Guerre in Paris and the US Army War College in Carlisle. He has commanded company, battalion, brigade and division and has served in higher staff positions nationally and in NATO Headquarters. General (ret) K. Bartels was Chief of Defence Denmark in 2009-2011 and Chairman NATO Military Committee 2012-2015. He retired in 2015 and became Adjunct Professor in military history at the Royal Danish Defence College. General (ret) K. Bartels is married to Mrs. Inge Vansteenkiste and they have their home in Belgium.