Does Canada figure in NATO's future? Yes. Three times.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies is relatively well-respected Washington-based think tank. A couple of weeks ago, it released a study that takes a look at the future of NATO. It was titled Towards a Grand Strategy for an Uncertain World: Renewing Transatlantic Partnership (PDF) and it was jointly written by some heavy hitters: the former chiefs of the defence staffs in the U.S., Germany, France, the U.K., and the Netherlands. It is 152 pages long. Canada is mentioned all of three times.

You’re probably interested in what way these five-star military men believe Canada will help renew this transatlantic partnership so let me quote the sections where Canada is mentioned in this 152–page report:

If global warming were to allow this to become a viable source of energy, a serious conflict could emerge between Russia and Norway, because the delineation of the continental shelf is still disputed. Such a potential crisis will involve a much larger area of the Arctic Circle, and will see the USA, Russia, Canada and Denmark competing for large and viable energy sources and precious raw materials. (p. 35)

Similarly, what does it mean for shipping and trade with Asia if climate
change allows the northern shore of Canada to be open to shipping all year round? What future military and naval requirements will be needed to protect such new and highly lucrative lines of maritime communication? What will the impact be on American–Canadian relations? (p. 35.) (The reader will be disappointed to learn that these are, alas, rhetorical questions and, though they seem to me to be important issues, they are not really addressed by the authors.)

For the USA to play its role as effectively as possible, the
transatlantic bargain between the European countries, Canada
and their American ally must be renewed. All of America’s
European allies acknowledge that their relationship with the
USA is indispensable. But in order to convince the US to
enter into a renewed bargain, Europe needs, in return, to become
a truly indispensable partner to the US. (p. 119)

Er. That’s it.