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Thomas Juneau
Assistant professor, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs
Canada's leading centre for analysis and debate of international affairs.
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Thomas Juneau
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Author's Posts
Canada Will Pay the Price for Neglecting Foreign Policy
Canada has benefitted from an incredible luxury for the past three decades: We have been able to make mistakes in major foreign and national security policy decisions, or neglect these matters, and suffer little to no cost. Most other countries …
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Ottawa Needs to Re-Evaluate the Mission in Iraq
- Analysis
- November 1, 2017
The Canadian government announced last Friday that it is temporarily suspending its mission to train Iraqi and Iraqi Kurdish forces given growing tension between the two sides. Ottawa should take this opportunity to carefully consider its next steps: because of …
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Defence Review: A Realistic Plan That’s Bound to Disappoint
- Analysis
- June 14, 2017
The Liberal government finally released on June 7, after 18 months of anticipation, its new defence policy. As with any other official policy document, and especially defence policies, it is important to remember that its value is limited. A comparison …
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Dealing with Trump, Part 2: Charm Them with Statistics
- Analysis
- June 2, 2017
Given the decentralized nature of power in the United States, Ottawa’s attack plan to protect NAFTA includes a significant lobbying effort with members of Congress. Armed with detailed numbers, Canadian representatives repeatedly emphasize what is probably their strongest argument: Canada …
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Dealing with Trump, Part 1: Canada’s Success (So Far)
- Analysis
- June 1, 2017
Few countries have more to lose economically from a hostile Donald Trump administration than Canada. The country’s prosperity is largely dependent on privileged access to the US market: about 75 percent of Canadian exports are sold in the United States, …
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Diplomacy should be at heart of defence policy
- Analysis
- September 2, 2016
By Stéfanie Von Hlatky and Thomas Juneau
On August 2, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan tweeted his thanks to Canadians who participated in the defence policy review consultations during the last four months. Over 20,200 submissions were received through the online …
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New peacekeeping plan a missed opportunity for Canada
- Analysis
- September 1, 2016
The Liberal government released on Friday its much anticipated policy on peace-support operations. On paper, this is good news. In practice, it is disappointing: Remove the hype, and the new policy mostly amounts to tinkering with what was already in …
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Why Canada Will Go Ahead with the LAV Deal
- Analysis
- July 4, 2016
The proposed $15-billion sale of light armoured vehicles (LAVs) to Saudi Arabia has brought significant attention — mostly negative — to Canada’s partnership with the Arabian Peninsula kingdom.
Much of this criticism is valid — the human-rights situation in Saudi …
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No, Yemen’s Houthis actually aren’t Iranian puppets
- Analysis
- June 1, 2016
For years, mounting instability had many predicting the collapse of Yemen. These forecasts became reality in 2014 when years of accumulated tension pushed the country into civil war. On one side is an alliance of the Houthis, a …
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Canadian Forces Reality Check: Time to do Less with Less
- Analysis
- April 22, 2016
The Liberal government announced on April 6 that it is launching public consultations to inform the drafting of its new defence policy. In launching the review, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan emphasized that defence policy must be shaped by the defence …
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A Smart IS Strategy — Except for the Air Strikes
- Analysis
- February 18, 2016
This week, the Trudeau government released its strategy to confront Islamic State. On balance, it is a good strategy, one that is consistent with Canada’s interests, with one important exception: the decision to stop the air strikes.
Every element in …
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Why Resuming Ties with Tehran will be Slow Going for Canada
- Analysis
- January 30, 2016
The Liberal government says it will soon begin lifting some sanctions imposed on Iran and will gradually implement its campaign pledge of re-establishing diplomatic relations with Tehran.
This is sound policy: It is in Canada’s interest to regain its foothold …
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Iran After a Nuclear Deal: Where Will Canada Stand?
Published in the Globe and Mail, Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Iran and the P5+1 – China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States, or the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, plus Germany – finally …
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Iran is Cutting its Losses with a Nuclear Deal
- Analysis
- July 8, 2015
By Thomas Juneau
Published on War on the Rocks, July 7, 2015
This week will likely — and finally — witness the dénouement of the longstanding nuclear dispute between Iran and the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the …
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Iran’s Failed Foreign Policy: Dealing From a Position of Weakness
Adapted from a report published by the Middle East Institute
Iran’s ambition is to be the dominant state in the Persian Gulf and an indispensable regional power in the broader Middle East. This is a plausible aspiration. Iran’s potential assets …
READ MOREYes, With Conditions, To War in Iraq
Published in the National Post, March 23, 2015
The Harper government is expected to announce this week that it will renew — and possibly expand to Syria — its commitment to the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State of …
READ MORECanadian Mission Creep in Iraq? A CIPS Debate – Part 2
For Parts 1 and 3 of this CIPS debate, see the posts by Roland Paris and Philippe Lagassé
Published in the Globe and Mail, January 29, 2015
The government has faced mounting criticism since it announced that special forces’ …
READ MORECanada Got It About Right in Iraq
Canada decided last week to contribute CF-18 fighter aircraft, surveillance and refuelling planes, and advisers to the U.S.-led coalition bombing the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Was this the right decision?
Ideally, foreign policy should first seek to define …
READ MOREBehind Canada’s Shifting Rhetoric on Israel
Published in the Ottawa Citizen, August 5, 2014
The current round of violence between Israel and Hamas has given rise to a renewed wave of criticism of the Canadian government’s close support for Israel. Underlying such criticism is often …
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