International Criminal Court launches investigation into war crimes in Palestine In our 5 February 2021 blog, we reported on the historic ruling of the International Criminal Court (ICC) that it has jurisdiction over alleged war crimes or atrocities committed in …
A closer look at “fraught” Canada-China relations
Retired diplomat and expert hostage negotiator Gar Pardy on Canada-China relations This week saw two highly informative webinars exploring how to move beyond Canada’s extremely troubled relationship with China. Both webinars are now available for viewing and the links are …
NATO report suggests Alliance still “brain dead”, more Canadian gun control and worries over Biden’s China policy review
NATO high-level “reflections” on next ten years a total bust NATO defence ministers met on 17-18 February 2021 in Brussels to discuss the next steps in the NATO 2030 “reflection” process and to review a high-level expert group report, NATO …
NORAD modernization a litmus test of Canadian post-pandemic priorities
U.S. Air Force backs sweeping NORAD upgrade proposal called SHIELD President Joe Biden, in his first call to a foreign leader as President of the United States, spoke with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on 22 January 2021. The White House …
Hope for Yemen, vaccine equity, the ICC and Palestine, cyber operations and more
USA stops weapons sales, boosts diplomacy to end Yemen conflict Let us start with some really good news. In his first major foreign policy address since his inauguration as the 46th American president, Joe Biden announced an end to US …
Parliament and national security overreach, new U.S. Iran Envoy, suspension of U.S. arms to Saudi Arabia and more
Unanimous parliamentary motion on expanding terrorist list a dark day for our democracy Let it be stated categorically that combatting hate-based violence, racism, xenophobia and Islamophobia is an urgent task, and we need to “up our game” significantly in light …
Welcoming the TPNW and supporting a progressive American foreign policy
New global nuclear ban treaty is now in force! Ever since the 50th ratification was obtained on UN Day (24 October), we have been counting down the days until 22nd January — when the historic Treaty on the Prohibition of …
The Ban Treaty comes to Canada’s Senate, Trump foreign policy landmines pile up and more
Canadian senators to receive expert NGO briefing on TPNW The historic Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), popularly called the Ban Treaty, will enter into force on January 22nd as we noted in last week’s blog. We are …
Democrats regain the Senate fueling hopes of an America that is no longer our biggest problem
The worst and the best of the USA — on the same day A dark but sadly predictable day for Trump’s America On January 6th, 2021 the world witnessed “jaw-dropping images” of pro-Trump rioters breaching the U.S. Capitol building for …
Saudi humiliation, Iranian torment, the war in Nagorno-Karabakh and weaning Canada off its arms dealer addiction
Important victory for Human Rights Council with non-election of Saudi Arabia Let’s start with some good news — the failure of Saudi Arabia, despite all its money and power, to secure a seat on the UN Human Rights Council, even …
Dicey trade agreements, the economics of nukes, Turkish drones and Canadian gun control
Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement bypasses international law Peter Larson in a recent blog examines the latest report of the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, Michael Lynk, a Canadian law professor. For the full blog, including …
Enduring Values of the United Nations recalled on UN Day
24 October was UN Day Just prior to UN Day on 24 October UN Secretary-General António Guterres released a video recalling the enduring values of the United Nations Charter. Among his statements therein: Our founding mission is more critical …
