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
A geopolitical sales pitch for Canada in a world of weaponized trade
Patrick Leblond | September 14, 2026
Prime Minister Mark Carney is selling some 167 major projects to investors at this week’s Canada Investment Summit. The strongest case for Canada may be a geopolitical one: in a world of weaponized trade routes, it is the reliable bridge between Asia and Europe.
Economic Resilience and Security Initiative
The Globe & Mail
In Strasbourg, a muted Carney reins in EU enthusiasm and gives no answers
Aaron Gasch Burnett | September 17, 2026
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.
Economic Resilience and Security Initiative
Eurasia Review
India’s National Security Strategy: Critical And Emerging Technologies – Analysis
Karthik Nachiappan | August 5, 2026
Critical and emerging technologies (CETs), including artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, cyber capabilities, quantum technologies, drones, advanced communications and space systems, are increasingly central to India’s evolving national security strategy. These technologies are reshaping how India prepares for conflict, protects its economic interests, manages strategic competition and structures its partnerships.
India Initiative
Strategic Analysis Network
What security benefits or risks should the Government of Canada consider when thinking about AI?
Balkan Devlen | August 5, 2026
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.
AI and Quantum Initiative
The Globe and Mail
Canada didn’t chicken out. We did the right thing
Patrick Leblond | August 22, 2026
Carney and his team indicated that they were ready to walk away from a deal and face the threatened tariffs.
Economic Resilience and Security Initiative
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Press Room
Photo:Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Images
The Globe & Mail
Chinese state-backed investors join Carney’s summit, signalling thaw with Beijing
September 14, 2026
Vina Nadjibulla, Co-Founder and CEO, CSS Team
Vina Nadjibulla, co-founder and CEO of the Centre for Strategic Statecraft, a new think tank, says it’s reasonable to have Chinese investors in the room for Canada’s investment summit. But she says national security concerns become especially relevant for investments touching quantum technology, advanced manufacturing, defence and other sensitive sectors in Canada’s pitch book. “The objective cannot simply be to attract as much capital as possible,” Ms. Nadjibulla said, adding that the government must ensure foreign investment does not compromise control over critical technologies, strategic assets or broader national security interests.
Economic Resilience and Security Initiative
Photo: Charlie Riedel/AP
Politico
Trump’s bond sell-off isn’t helping energy prices — or data centers
September 14, 2026
Vina Nadjibulla, Co-Founder and CEO, CSS Team
Drilling down: More than one-third of the projects (63 of 167) are related to minerals and metals. Fifty-two of those 63 “involve critical minerals or related processing and value chains,” writes Vina Nadjibulla, co-founder of the Centre for Strategic Statecraft, a Canadian think tank. She said that’s “one of the striking things about the pitch book” because: “That matters for economic security, trade diversification and Canada’s ability to build more of the strategic supply chains of the future.”
Economic Resilience and Security Initiative
Photo: Chris Tanouye/Reuters
Al Jazeera
Mark Carney pitches Canada to global investors amid US trade war
September 14, 2026
Vina Nadjibulla, Co-Founder and CEO, CSS Team
Hundreds of investors overseeing nearly $120 trillion in assets will gather in Toronto for the Canada Investment Summit.
Economic Resilience and Security Initiative
Photo: The Hill Times by Andrew Meade
The Hill Times
Day two of the cabinet retreat in Banff
September 11, 2026
Vina Nadjibulla, Co-Founder and CEO, CSS Team
Across the ocean, India is hosting a crucial BRICS summit with Russia’s Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping in attendance, along with Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian and several other leaders. The bilateral meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi will be of particular significance, said the co-founder of a new foreign policy think tank, the Centre for Strategic Statecraft, Vina Nadjibulla.
Economic Resilience and Security Initiative
Canadian Affairs
New think tank aims to help Canada build ‘hard power’
September 10, 2026
Vina Nadjibulla, Co-Founder and CEO, CSS Team
Jonathan Berkshire Miller, Senior Fellow
The Centre for Strategic Statecraft plans to focus on Canada’s economy and defence, including relationship with India
Global News
Carney government’s silence about 1st defence talks with China in 8 years comes under scrutiny
September 10, 2026
Vina Nadjibulla, Co-Founder and CEO, CSS Team
“What’s significant is not that Canada is engaged in this dialogue — which it makes sense because we need diplomacy including with China to advance our interests — the significant part was there was no communication from the Canadian government and Canadians had to learn about this from China and from coverage that happened based on a statement from the Chinese government,” says Vina Nadjibulla, CEO at Centre for Strategic Statecraft.
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Who We Are
