CANADIAN MARITIME SECURITY NETWORK

An Interdisciplinary Research Network Providing Innovative Solutions Tailored to Canada's Maritime Defence and Security Needs.

Featured

Canadian Seapower 2025 | Save the Date (September 26-27, 2025)

Today, Canada faces a more complex and dangerous security landscape than at any time since the Second World War. The country is at an inflection point, facing two great power competitors, a complicated ecosystem of malign non-state actors, persistent pressures eroding the rules based international order, and an uncertain partnership with the United States. This conference will bring together academics, experts, and serving and retired naval and coast guard personnel to examine the emerging maritime security threats facing Canada and offer ideas for a path forward.

Learn More

Recent Publications

The Future is Uncrewed

Kate Todd

Paper 1 in the Corvette Project Vision Series, this NAC partnership paper proposes an uncrewed forcus for Canada's MCDV replacement.

For Want of Frigates

Brian Santarpia

Paper 2 in the Corvette Project Vision Series, this NAC partnership paper proposes a light warship for Canada's MCDV replacement.

RIAN_archive_895550_Drills_for_nuclear_submarine_crews_at_training_center_in_Murmansk_Regi

The 'Fourth Battle for the Arctic'

Sergey Sukhankin

This in-depth report examines Russia's long-term Arctic strategy, its priorities, and plans for the region. It maps out how Russia plans to fight in the North and what the West needs to consider.

The Canadian Naval Encylopedia

The Naval Association of Canada

A CMSN sponsored NAC product, the Naval Encylopedia offers a one-stop overview of everything to do with the Royal Canadian Navy.

An Overview of Global USV and UUV Developments

David Thomas

This report provides an overview of the world's UUV and USV technologies as they are being adopted by international navies.

Events

ICE-Pact: Unpacked

December 9, 2024

A workshop incorporating government, industry, and academic experts designed to offer concrete options to operationalize the new ICE Pact.

Canadian Seapower 2025

September 26-27, 2025

This conference will bring together academics, experts, and serving and retired naval and coast guard personnel to examine the emerging maritime security threats facing Canada today.

MINDS

A MINDS Network

Housed at StFX

The Mobilizing Insights in Defence and Security (MINDS) program is designed to facilitate collaboration and mobilize knowledge between the Department of National Defence, the Canadian Armed Forces, and academia and other experts on defence and security issues. Through its Targeted Engagement Grants, collaborative networks, scholarships, and expert briefings, MINDS works and collaborates with key partners to strengthen the foundation of evidence-based defence policy making. These partnerships drive innovation by encouraging new analyses of emerging global events, opportunities, and crises, while supporting a stronger defence and security dialogue with Canadians.

CMSN is housed in the Brian Mulroney Institute of Government at St. Francis Xavier University. The Institute is one of Canada's preeminent centres for undergraduate education in the areas of government, public policy, and leadership, contributing innovative research and creative solutions to complex national and global problems.