Threatscape - Mapping global risks in a changing world

Critical Infrastructure and the Indo-Pacific: Canada, Japan, and the New Security Nexus

In this episode, we sit down with Jonathan Berkshire Miller, Senior Fellow at the Montreal Institute for Global Security, to explore the growing security importance of critical infrastructure, particularly undersea cables and their role in economic resilience.

Jonathan discusses why infrastructure once seen as purely commercial is now increasingly viewed through a national security lens, highlighting key gaps policymakers still need to address when responding to emerging risks. He also reflects on how partners such as Japan are approaching economic security and infrastructure protection differently from North America and Europe, and what this means for Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy. Finally, we examine the challenges of attribution in hybrid threats and identify practical opportunities for Canada and Japan to strengthen cooperation on critical infrastructure resilience.

Beneath the Ice: The Future of Arctic Connectivity

In this episode, we sit down with Alex Dalziel, Senior Fellow at the Montreal Institute for Global Security,  to discuss the future of subsea connectivity and the strategic importance of Arctic infrastructure in an evolving security landscape.

Alex explores how hybrid threats and grey-zone tactics complicate the protection of subsea cables, particularly in regions shaped by climate change, increased economic activity, and geopolitical rivalry. He also examines the challenges of attribution when disruptions occur, and what resilience looks like in practice when designing infrastructure for contested environments. Finally, we discuss the role Canada can play in shaping Arctic connectivity and why a whole-of-society approach is essential for protecting critical infrastructure in remote regions.

Japan’s Strategic Shift: Security, Alliances, and Risk in the Indo-Pacific

In this episode, we sit down with Benoit Hardy-Chartrand, Senior Lecturer at Temple University Japan and Adjunct Professor at the United Nations University Tokyo, to examine Japan’s evolving security outlook amid an increasingly complex geopolitical environment in the Indo-Pacific. Benoit discusses recent shifts in Japan’s defence posture, including increased spending and updated strategic frameworks, and what these changes reveal about Japan’s assessment of regional risks.

He also explores the growing importance of economic security in shaping resilience and strategic vulnerability, as well as Japan’s relationships with key partners such as the United States, Australia, and South Korea. Finally, we consider where Canada and Japan can deepen cooperation on shared strategic priorities and what developments policymakers should be watching in the years ahead.

Undersea Lifelines: Submarine Cables and the New Geopolitics of Connectivity

In this episode, we sit down with Athena Tong, Visiting Researcher at the University of Tokyo and a Research Associate & Programme Lead at the China Strategic Risks Institute, to explore the strategic importance of submarine cables as critical infrastructure within today’s geopolitical competition.

Athena explains why these systems have become increasingly vulnerable, particularly in regions such as Taiwan and Japan’s southwestern islands, where growing military and maritime pressures complicate infrastructure security. She discusses the challenge policymakers face in distinguishing between accidental disruptions and deliberate sabotage, and how dual-use commercial infrastructure can complicate risk assessments. Finally, we examine emerging connectivity corridors and the potential for new routes, including those linking Asia and Europe through Canada’s Arctic, to strengthen global resilience and economic security.

Indo-Pacific Cyber Dynamics: ASEAN, Canada, and Global Rules

In this episode, we sit down with Farlina Said, Fellow and Team Lead in the Cyber and Technology Policy programme at Institute of Strategic and International Studies (Malaysia) to explore all things cyber security, including how we should distinguish between cyber security and cyber stability. Ms. Said discusses the cyber security landscape in 2025, including the challenges that countries face when looking to defend themselves against cyberattacks, as well as the international communities’ difficulty in regulating the international rules of the cyber domain. She also touches on what gives her hope for the future when looking at these issues. Finally, we discuss ASEAN and whether Canada is in a place to partner with ASEAN countries on this issue, and within the Indo-Pacific region more broadly. 

The Xi Era: China's Transformation and the West’s Blind Spots

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Alicia Hennig, interim professor of business ethics at the Technical University of Dresden in Germany, who brings extensive professional experience in China from both business and academia. Dr. Hennig guides us through understanding China's political system, exploring the role of the Chinese Communist Party in daily life and the philosophical foundations that shape Chinese political thought—and how these differ fundamentally from Western traditions. She discusses Xi Jinping’s transformation of China, including the expansion of surveillance systems and what this means for ordinary citizens. Dr. Hennig also addresses common Western blind spots, notably how Beijing views itself on the world stage following its "century of humiliation." We explore the top concerns of the CCP leadership, how China perceives America and the West, and the fundamental differences between Chinese and Russian authoritarian visions for the 21st century. Finally, Dr. Hennig discusses the "no-limits partnership" between China and Russia amid the Ukraine war and offers insights into what Canadians should be watching regarding China in the months ahead.

Japan’s Strategic Shift

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Nanae Baldauff, Senior Associate Fellow at the NATO Defense College, to explore Japan’s evolving national defence strategy and its growing role in regional and global security. Dr. Baldauff discusses Japan’s defence build-up, its alliance with the United States, and its expanding partnerships across the Indo-Pacific — including strategic ties with Canada and NATO. The conversation also delves into Japan’s relationship with Taiwan and examines possible scenarios in the event of a regional crisis, highlighting the complexities of deterrence and diplomacy in an increasingly tense strategic environment.

New Realities, New Partnerships: Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy

In this timely conversation, political scientist Stephen R. Nagy (Professor at International Christian University, Tokyo) explores the evolving dynamics of security and defence in the Indo-Pacific — a region at the centre of global strategic competition. Drawing on his extensive expertise in regional geopolitics, Dr. Nagy discusses the challenges and opportunities facing Canada as it deepens its engagement in the Indo-Pacific, including India, with whom Canada has had difficult relationship over the past few years. Dr. Nagy also speaks about Canada's economic and security partnerships with Vietnam, Singapore, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia and the need for creative strategies and entrepreneurship.

Arctic Frontlines: Canada, Europe, and the Future of Security in the North

In this episode, we sit down with Karsten Friis, Senior Research Fellow at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI), to explore the evolving security landscape in the Arctic. As great power competition intensifies and climate change opens new strategic frontiers, the region’s importance for both European and Canadian defense policy is growing rapidly. Friis discusses how NATO allies are adapting to new challenges in the High North, the future of transatlantic security cooperation, and why building stronger defense partnerships is key to maintaining stability in the Arctic.

Guarding the North - Canada’s Arctic Strategy: a conversation with Charles "Duff" Sullivan

In this episode, MIGS Fellow Elizabeth Anderson speaks to Charles "Duff" Sullivan about Canada's Arctic sovereignty and defense. They also delve into Canada's relationship to countries in the Indo-Pacific.

Charles S. “Duff” Sullivan is a former general officer and senior military commander who has served at the highest levels of operational command and leadership. He entered the private sector in 2009 following a 31-year career in the Royal Canadian Air Force and continued to serve in senior leadership roles.