18FEBRUARY/MARCH 2026 www.vanguardcanada.com
F E AT U R E
A G RA N D S
CA N A DA'S N E E D F O R
B Y R E A R A D M I R A L ( R E T ' D ) B R I A N S A N TA R P I A
The following piece is drawn from
Rear Admiral (Ret'd) Brian Santarpia's
address to the Canadian Seapower 2025
Conference in Calgary in September. It is not a
verbatim transcript, but a condensed narrative
intended to capture the key themes and
strategic vision presented.
ONE OF THE GREAT REQUIREMENTS THAT CANADIAN DEFENCE
POLICYMAKERS FACE TODAY IS A LACK OF A CLEAR GRAND
STRATEGY. THE COUNTRY HAS LONG ENJOYED THE RARE PRIVILEGE
OF GEOGRAPHY: BORDERED BY OCEANS AND A SUPERPOWER,
ITS SURVIVAL HAS SELDOM DEPENDED ON DELIBERATE CHOICES
ABOUT WAR OR PEACE. THIS GEOGRAPHIC SECURITY HAS FOSTERED
A BUREAUCRATIC AND POLITICAL CULTURE ORIENTED TOWARD
MANAGEMENT RATHER THAN DIRECTION. GOVERNMENTS PLAN IN
INCREMENTS; DEPARTMENTS DEFEND BUDGETS; CONSENSUS IS
PRIZED OVER CONTESTATION.
