The Centre for Strategic Statecraft (CSS) officially launched today as a new independent, non-partisan think tank dedicated to strengthening Canada’s capacity to advance its interests and exercise greater agency in a more competitive and fragmented world.

The Centre for Strategic Statecraft begins from a straightforward premise: Canada needs a clearer vision of its place in the world and the capabilities to act on it.

The Centre defines strategic statecraft as the ability to connect national ambition with national capability — bringing together foreign policy, economic security, technology, energy, defence, industrial capacity and international partnerships to protect Canadian interests and shape outcomes.

“Canada is entering an era in which economic strength, technological capacity, energy, industrial capability and defence are inseparable from foreign policy,” said Vina Nadjibulla, Co-Founder and CEO of the Centre for Strategic Statecraft. “Canada has enormous assets, but too often we treat them as separate policy files. The challenge now is to connect them deliberately — and turn Canadian strengths into greater resilience, leverage and influence.”

The Centre for Strategic Statecraft was created to help bridge that gap. The Centre will combine policy research and analysis with strategic convening, communications and partnership-building. Its networked model will bring together leaders and expertise from government, industry, academia and the international policy community, with a strong emphasis on translating ideas into practical action.

At launch, it will organize its work around four flagship initiatives:

• Economic Resilience and Security Initiative — strengthening Canada’s economic security and industrial positioning by examining strategic industries, supply chains, investment, critical technologies and dependencies, including where engagement with China and other major economic actors advances Canadian interests and where greater safeguards or domestic capability are required.
• AI and Quantum Initiative — advancing collaboration with trusted international partners to connect Canadian research strengths with commercialization, industrial capacity, investment and economic security.
• Arctic Security and Defence Initiative — strengthening Canada’s ability to exercise sovereignty, build defence and security capability, work with allies and shape the rapidly evolving strategic environment in the Arctic.
• India Initiative — building the knowledge, relationships and institutional capacity required for a deeper, more sustained and strategically grounded Canada–India relationship.

These initiatives will anchor a broader program of work on the interconnected challenges shaping Canada’s security, prosperity and international influence — from critical minerals and supply chains to strategic technologies, defence production and partnerships across Europe and the Indo-Pacific.

“The Centre for Strategic Statecraft is not being built simply to produce more commentary about what Canada should do,” Nadjibulla said. “We want to help build the capacity to do it. That means developing actionable ideas, bringing the right people around the table, building durable partnerships at home and abroad, and helping Canada make strategic choices before circumstances make those choices for us.”

The Centre is led by Nadjibulla and a core team supported by a growing network of senior fellows, advisors, practitioners and institutional partners in Canada and internationally. It is a registered Canadian charity and will work with partners across government, business, philanthropy and the policy community to develop its research, convening and partnership initiatives.

About the Centre for Strategic Statecraft

The Centre for Strategic Statecraft (CSS) is an independent, non-partisan think tank established to strengthen Canada’s capacity to think strategically and act effectively in a more competitive and fragmented world. CSS connects foreign policy with economic security, technology, energy, defence, industry and supply chains, working across government, business and the expert community to help build a more secure, resilient, prosperous and influential Canada.