The Importance of National Security: A Global Perspective
Commentary
Who would have imagined that we would long for the days of the Cold War?
At a time when Russian aggression in Ukraine has prompted President Putin to publicly consider using ‘tactical’ nuclear weapons, who in their right mind would desire a return to the era of MAD (mutually assured destruction), a period where international tensions between the world’s superpowers (and their allies) could easily have resulted in exchanges of bombs far more devastating than those dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II?
When we assess the current international security threat level, those years of East-West hostility seem like a walk in the park.
The most recent US annual threat assessment produced by the country’s intelligence community (a large group encompassing civilian and military agencies) does not provide much comfort. The very first line reads: “During the next year, the United States faces an increasingly fragile global order strained by accelerating strategic competition among major powers, more intense and unpredictable transnational challenges, and multiple regional conflicts with far-reaching implications.”
And it only gets more dire from there.
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It is no surprise that there are familiar antagonists: China (“ambitious but anxious”), Russia (“confrontational”), and Iran (“challenging longstanding rules of the international system”). The report also mentions Hamas and the widespread repercussions of its abhorrent terrorist attack on Israel last October (numerous plots have been foiled, even within Canada). The text touches on the challenges posed by AI and biotechnologies, as well as the impacts of global warming and climate change. Additionally, the FBI director has warned that terrorist threats against the United States have escalated to a “whole other level” following the barbaric actions of Hamas.
Phew, that is quite a lot to absorb. In simple terms, the threat environment has likely never been this complicated, and addressing the diverse range of actors will require significant resources and funding.
So, what implications does all of this have for Canada? Surprisingly, quite a bit. As a member of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance, NATO, and the broader alliance of Western democracies, we have obligations to fulfill for both our allies and our citizens. Canadians rightfully expect robust efforts to address and thwart these threats.
Canada is increasingly viewed as a free-rider in terms of national security. Many Canadians still hold onto the belief that being a neighbor of the United States allows us to coast, assured that America will always have our back and prevent any harm. However, those days may be numbered, particularly if Trump is re-elected (his stance on non-paying nations is well documented!).
The threat landscape will continue evolving, with past dangers like Islamist terrorism persisting and new entities emerging to jeopardize our national security and interests. It is imperative for the government to take these issues seriously, leveraging intelligence and shared values with allies. National security may not sway votes in certain constituencies, but that is no reason to sideline it.
The world has always been fraught with danger, but the current threats seem to be of a different nature entirely. This trend is unlikely to subside anytime soon, emphasizing the need for Canada to acknowledge and invest in the requisite agencies promptly. The recent U.S. intelligence report should serve as a wake-up call for both Canada and Canadians.
Who longs for the certainties and simplicities of the Cold War now?
Views expressed in this article are solely the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
