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.
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.
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.
Featured Publications
Policy Magazine
The Great Rebound: How Donald Trump is Accelerating the Canada-India Rapprochement
Vina Nadjibulla | August 24, 2026
The collapse of Canada–U.S. trade negotiations has imbued Prime Minister Mark Carney’s diversification agenda with a new sense of urgency. Among the partners crucial to that agenda is India.
India 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
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
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
Policy Magazine
Canada and India Reset Ties in a Realigning World
Sanjay Ruparelia | November 27, 2025
The joint declaration that India and Canada issued from the sidelines of the South Africa G20 this week announcing that the two countries are seeking a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) is a significant development.
India Initiative
Load More
Press Room
Photo: The Hill Times by Andrew Meade
The Hill Times
Day two of the cabinet retreat in Banff
September 11, 2026
| Vina Nadjibulla, 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, 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, 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.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
iPolitics
Canada-China defence talks not a shift in security posture, expert says
September 9, 2026
| Vina Nadjibulla, CSS Team
An expert on Canada-China relations is cautioning against turning renewed defence talks between Ottawa and Beijing into a partisan issue, while calling on the federal government to be more transparent about the purpose of the dialogue.
Economic Resilience and Security Initiative
Photo: GoToVan
Toronto Star
While some debate the word, we overlook Canada’s real problem with terrorism
September 8, 2026
| Stephanie Carvin, Senior Fellow
A recent controversy over the CBC’s approach to describing terrorism and the September 11 attacks opened a debate over what we do and do not call terrorism, but it also exposed a preoccupation with terminology over substance when it comes to terrorism in Canada.
Economic Resilience and Security Initiative
The Globe & Mail
Canada holds first defence co-ordination talks with China in more than eight years
September 8, 2026
| Vina Nadjibulla, CSS Team
Canada has restarted military talks with China after a break of more than eight years that began with Beijing’s jailing of two Canadians in late 2018.
Economic Resilience and Security Initiative
Load More
Who We Are
