Building Canada’s capacity to act
An independent institution built for a more competitive and fragmented world
About Us
Turning ambition into action
Strategic statecraft is the ability to connect national ambition to national capability. For Canada, that means sharper focus, strength at home, and partnerships that do real work.
The Centre for Strategic Statecraft works with government, industry and the expert community to build that connection. The result is a more capable, resilient and influential Canada, working with democratic partners to shape a secure and prosperous future.
The Centre for Strategic Statecraft works with government, industry and the expert community to build that connection. The result is a more capable, resilient and influential Canada, working with democratic partners to shape a secure and prosperous future.
What We Do
Areas of Work
CSS works across a connected set of issues central to Canada's security, prosperity and international influence.
In its initial phase, the Centre is concentrating on flagship initiatives where it can make the greatest impact and build the partnerships required for future growth.
In its initial phase, the Centre is concentrating on flagship initiatives where it can make the greatest impact and build the partnerships required for future growth.
Economic Resilience and Security Initiative
Strengthening Canada’s economic resilience and industrial position through strategic choices on supply chains, critical dependencies, investment and industrial capacity: identifying where Canada should build, diversify, protect and remain open.
AI and Quantum Initiative
Linking Canada’s research excellence in artificial intelligence and quantum to commercialization, industrial capacity and economic security, with trusted partners in the Indo-Pacific and Europe.
Arctic Security and Defence Initiative
Connecting Canada’s Arctic priorities across defence, economic security, infrastructure and foreign policy, while building the capabilities and partnerships needed to turn sovereignty and strategy into sustained action.
India Initiative
Deepening Canadian competence on India as its strategic and economic importance grows, and building a stronger bilateral relationship through executive education, strategic dialogue, practical sectoral cooperation and partnerships with leading Indian institutions.
Featured Publications
Centre for Strategic Statecraft | September 21, 2026
Why the Trump-Xi Washington Summit Matters to Canada
The Vietnamese president’s visit comes as Ottawa and Hanoi are both searching—from very different geopolitical positions—for greater resilience, diversified partnerships, and room to manoeuvre in a more contested world.
The Globe & Mail | September 17, 2026
In Strasbourg, a muted Carney reins in EU enthusiasm and gives no answers
Prime Minister Mark Carney walked to the European Parliament’s lectern Thursday morning in Strasbourg, France, fresh off a clear political victory. But his vision of closer European Union ties has also clashed with harsh reality.
Carney and his team indicated that they were ready to walk away from a deal and face the threatened tariffs.
Strategic Analysis Network | August 5, 2026
What security benefits or risks should the Government of Canada consider when thinking about AI?
Ottawa’s new AI strategy is a competent document about a narrow problem. It wants more firms adopting AI, more compute on Canadian soil, fewer dependencies running through foreign clouds.
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Press Room
Photo: The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
The Hill Times | September 23, 2026
Wait grows for formal plan underpinning a new Canadian foreign policy
Vina Nadjibulla, co-founder and CEO of the Centre for Strategic Statecraft, said she isn’t surprised by the delay in releasing the plans given the current geopolitical shocks. “But having said that, I do believe that we need these documents to come out—or some versions of them to come out publicly—so that the Canadian public can clearly see what our priorities are, and also so that’s something that’s available to our allies,”
Economic Resilience and Security Initiative
Financial Times | September 23, 2026
Mark Carney and the limits of defying Donald Trump
Rapprochement with China is also delicate, not least because Canadian intelligence services deem Beijing an “enduring threat” and one of the “main perpetrators of foreign interference and espionage”. “There is a legitimate role for the Chinese capital in Canada,” says Vina Nadjibulla, an Asia policy expert and founder of the Centre for Strategic Statecraft. “But pragmatism cannot mean treating all capital as strategically neutral.”
Economic Resilience and Security Initiative
Institute of Geoeconomics | September 18, 2026
Beyond the Trade War: Canada’s Struggle for Economic Sovereignty
Vina Nadjibulla joins the Geoeconomic Agenda podcast to discuss the evolving Canada–U.S. relationship, its implications for Canadian sovereignty and economic security, and Canada’s push to diversify its global partnerships.
Economic Resilience and Security Initiative
NPR | September 16, 2026
EU offers Canada ‘associate member’ role; Trump calls it ‘laughable’
"There's a lot of excitement about what associate membership means when it does not in fact exist … among people who would support closer ties to the EU," Aaron Burnett, Senior Fellow says. "This is also becoming a partisan issue in Canada, with the opposition now saying, 'well, please explain what powers you're willing to give up to Brussels and what you would get in return.'"
Economic Resilience and Security Initiative
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Who We Are
