The New Maritime Battlespace

This conference will be held on 5 May, 2026. Further details will be posted as they become available, including the opportunity to register.

The conference will address the following topic: Canada’s maritime environment is entering a period of rapid and profound transformation. New geopolitical pressures, the accelerating militarization of the Arctic, the expansion of grey-zone competition at sea, and the proliferation of autonomous and long-range precision systems are reshaping the demands placed on the Royal Canadian Navy and the nation’s broader security architecture. The New Maritime Battlespace brings together leading scholars, practitioners, industry and defence professionals to examine the evolving threat landscape and the technologies redefining naval operations. Through two focused panels—Emerging Threats in the Maritime Domain and Technology, Readiness, and the Future Canadian Fleet—along with a keynote from a senior naval leader, the conference explores how Canada can adapt its strategy, capabilities, and global posture to remain a credible maritime actor in an increasingly contested world. This event offers a forward-looking, tough-minded assessment of the challenges ahead and the opportunities for renewal within Canadian maritime defence.