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The Critical Influence on Future Canadian Military Planning

By Les Mader, 10 October 2025

HMCS Ottawa moves into position alongside MV Asterix prior to conducting a concurrent Replenishment at Sea (RAS) with USS Rafael Peralta during Indo-Pacific Deployment in the South China Sea on 6 October 2023.
Photo Credit: Aviator Gregory Cole, Canadian Armed Forces Photo

In The Globe and Mail article at the link below, Professor Franklyn Griffiths discusses Canada’s sovereignty, the Northwest Passage, global threats, and recommended actions by the Canadian government.  During his discussion, he makes a number of points that I believe are consistent with the understandings of a large number of Canadians.  These include:

  • Donald Trump’s threat to annex Canada “… presents us with a real-life threat that commands attention and planning without delay.”
  • One motivation for this threat is “… to improve his prospects for continued and unconstitutional occupancy of the White House after the end of his second term …”
  • Another, related motivation is “… to normalize and brighten the outlook for autocratic rule and the deconstruction of democracy in the United States.”

Personally, I have believed the basic gist of these ideas since Trump refused to accept his defeat in the 2020 presidential election and increased his authoritarian rhetoric; as Maya Angelou once said: "When people show you who they are, believe them."

Given this situation, I feel that everyone discussing future Canadian military plans, equipment procurement, training, and resource allocation must bear Trump’s threat firmly in mind.  The United States is the only country which can realistically invade and conquer Canada.  With Trump as president, we must assume that such an action is more than simply a puerile plot in a Tom Clancy-like novel and plan accordingly.

The Forum’s readership is urged to allow this reality to shape their thoughts and published comments.

Post continues on the Broadsides Forum

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Preview: Canadian Naval Review Vol. 21 No. 2 - Canadian Coast Guard Theme Issue

We have a special treat in store for CNR fans. Given the exciting changes that have occurred recently, including a change in its institutional home, we’ve produced a theme issue focused on the Canadian Coast Guard. This theme issue is sponsored by the Canadian Maritime Security Network.

This issue of CNR contains a variety of articles, by high-level and well-known authors, examining different elements of the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG). We start with quick overviews of the traditional roles the CCG has performed, particularly in the Arctic, and the new era for the CCG – in terms of new ships, new threats, new opportunities and new environment.

Our first article, “The Canadian Coast Guard and National Security,” looks at how the CCG can contribute to the national security environment after its move to DND. The second article, “Canada’s Coast Guard at a Crossroads: Safeguarding Shores and Security,” examines how the CCG move to DND can leverage “the CCG’s assets and capabilities to close gaps in the country’s common operating picture and deliver a more holistic national defence.”

The third article, “The Cost of Success: Rebuilding the Coast Guard’s Arctic Capabilities,” outlines that, despite the welcome addition of new ships for the CCG, the Canadian government is perpetuating the boom-and-bust cycle of shipbuilding. As well, the government is ensuring that the CCG will be ironing out wrinkles for years because of (a) the problems inherent in the first-of-class builds, (b) the different maintenance, crewing and training needs for the different ships, and (c) the fact that, once again, the fleet will have to be replaced wholesale in 30(ish) years. The fourth article, “The Canadian Coast Guard Arctic Region: Transforming Arctic Search and Rescue,” takes a close look at how the CCG has worked to improve its relationships in the North, and in this way to improve its response, and the response of local communities, to search-and-rescue operations. The final article, “How US Coast Guard Failures can Inform Canadian Success,” examines the recent USCG experience recapitalizing its fleet. In particular the article focuses on the need for strategic planning and getting the support of politicians, and examines hard lessons the USCG has learned about recruitment – with the hope that the CCG can learn from these lessons.

We don’t have our usual Making Waves commentaries, or “A View from the West” or “Warship Developments” but we do have “Dollars and Sense.” In this issue, “Dollars and Sense” looks at how the move of the CCG to DND affects defence spending, and can contribute to enhanced maritime domain awareness.

In addition to all this great information, we have our usual amazing photos – this time with a focus on CCG red and white ships!

Assuming that the Canada Post strike ends in the near future, the fall issue will be in your mailbox soon. E-subscribers will receive copies soon too. See the Table of Contents here.

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Looking for Books about Maritime Matters?

Over the last 20 years, Canadian Naval Review has published over 180 book reviews. These books cover a variety of topics but they all relate to maritime matters, history, or security and defence at sea. This is an amazing resource. Go through the list of reviews, pick out a few books that look interesting, read the reviews, and then order the books from your nearest bookstore or from the publisher. See the list of book reviews at https://www.navalreview.ca/book-reviews/