CASIS 2026: Beyond Hegemony: Intelligence, Defence, and Economic Security for Middle Powers

Welcome to the CASIS Annual Symposium 2026!

As the international order undergoes profound transformation, middle powers face an increasingly complex security environment shaped by geopolitical competition, economic fragmentation, technological disruption, and evolving threats below the threshold of conventional conflict. The 2026 CASIS Annual Symposium will bring together leading practitioners, academics, policymakers, and industry experts to examine how intelligence, defence, and economic security are adapting to this new strategic reality.

Through a series of engaging keynote addresses and expert panels, the symposium will explore the evolving landscape of economic statecraft, the intersection of trade and national security, the implications of emerging technologies for intelligence and domestic security, and the growing challenge of hybrid and gray-zone threats. Discussions will examine how states can strengthen resilience, safeguard democratic institutions, leverage intelligence partnerships, and navigate an increasingly contested global order.

Hosted at the Canadian War Museum, the symposium offers a unique forum for meaningful dialogue between government, academia, industry, and the national security community. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the strategic challenges facing Canada and its allies while exploring innovative approaches to preserving security, prosperity, and stability in an era of shifting global power.