SECURITY threats today no longer emerge as isolated shocks.

Instead, they intersect, reinforce one another and often develop gradually over time. Political instability fuels economic stress; economic pressures, in turn, intensify conflict; while information warfare erodes public trust and amplifies societal divisions. Together, these dynamics are reshaping the global security environment into something more like an approaching storms: complex, interconnected and increasingly difficult to contain. The global order that followed the Cold War seems to be breaking down. Power is dispersing out, old rule books are being questioned and policies based on the past narratives are often making things worse. Borders being challenged, alliances drifting and the world feels less predictable. For many developing countries, these shifts aren’t distant global trends, they are happening right outside their doors. In this environment, states have to navigate shifting power, shape emerging norms and adopt strategies for lasting uncertainty and change.

Great-power competition has returned, but without the clear blocs of the Cold War. Alliances are more fluid, partnerships more transactional and strategic ambiguity is widespread. Even within NATO, internal divisions have unsettled Washington and European capitals. Canada’s resistance to US pressure and its outreach to China reflect this broader shift in global power. In this environment, flexibility and careful calibration matter more than rigid alignment.

Security has expanded beyond the military domain. Economics, technology, information and humanitarian issues are now routinely weaponized. Narratives, supply chains and financial leverage now shape strategic outcomes as decisively as........

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