Dans l'actualité

Does a military upgrade mean a climate downgrade?

What on Earth with Laura Lynch (CBC Radio), April 2, 2026

Featuring: Hema Nadarajah, Program Manager, Southeast Asia, APF Canada

Excerpt: Hema says Canada’s increased spending on defence, totalling over C$63 billion, is a “much-needed change” to help support infrastructure and security in Canada’s Arctic, but warns Ottawa to consider climate resilience throughout these projects.

“The changing climate is fundamentally altering the Arctic’s role in Canada’s security. It’s made the region much more relevant in a way it simply wasn’t before, with warmer temperatures increasing resource availability and opening shipping corridors, like the Northwest Passage, which could cut shipping distances from Western Europe to East Asia by about 8,000 kilometres in the far north.”

Despite increased co-operation between China and Russia, she argues that the most urgent threat to Canada’s Arctic is not “a Russian tanker rolling across the tundra,” but "climate change." She adds that a larger defence budget “might put more pressure on our efforts to cut emissions.”

The Hill Times news item — The Hill Times

The Top 50 People Influencing Canadian Foreign Policy: The Hill Times

The Hill Times, April 8, 2026

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President Research & Strategy, APF Canada

The Hill Times' annual list was compiled after speaking to nearly 20 insiders, including current and former senior government officials, past diplomats, and analysts. APF Canada's Vina Nadjibulla was featured in this year's list.

Excerpt: The government’s pivot to Asia has put Vina Nadjibulla in the spotlight. She is described as having a “good network” within GAC and among Indo-Pacific embassies in Ottawa.

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada’s vice-president for research and strategy is a frequent commentator in the media for all things Indo-Pacific at a time when Canada is re-examining its engagement with China and India. That will only continue with ongoing trade negotiations with India, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and the Philippines, among other players in the region.

The Take via Al Jazeera — The Take | Al Jazeera

How Asia Became Ground Zero for the Oil Crisis

The Take from Al Jazeera, April 6, 2026

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: "In the front line [of the Iran war] where the people most impacted are the poor, the same is happening in Asia, where obviously all countries are impacted, but the countries that are not as advanced as let's say Japan or China or Taiwan are impacted more. And then within those countries, the people who are already kind of struggling and living paycheque to paycheque are now being impacted the most.

“The reason is because of the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The strait, which is a narrow body of water, 20 per cent of the energy, of the oil and gas of the world, goes through that strait. But the majority goes to Asia. So that's why countries from Pakistan to Japan were impacted the most, that entire region. Because A, most of them are very dependent on imports of oil – they don't have a domestic supply. And B, most of those imports came through the Middle East for them. So they were the first ones to feel it. And for countries like Japan and China, where they have strategic reserves of oil, the impact was not as severe because the governments were able to step in and take immediate measures. For countries like Bangladesh and the Philippines and Pakistan and even India, the impact was more severe because the reserves are less. And then [their governments] began introducing austerity measures.”

'Focused on building on PM Carney's visit': Analyst on delegates wrapping up China trade mission

CTV News, April 4, 2026

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: “[Finance Minister Champagne's visit to China] was very much focused on building on Prime Minister Carney's January visit. Minister Champagne was able to launch the financial working group set up between the two countries and unlock opportunities for Chinese state-directed investment into Canada. And the visit also allowed Canadian financial institutions and banks to hopefully expand their services and offerings in the Chinese market.

“This trip was really about getting the political buy-in, because in the Chinese system, you need that. It's a communist state-controlled system where you need the political leadership to agree to channel big capital and investments into Canada. And that's what Canada really wants right now, investments into oil and gas, as well as the agricultural sector.”

Michael Ma, député fédéral, commente le travail forcé en Chine

CTV News, 28 mars 2026

En vedette : Vina Nadjibulla, vice-présidente chargée de la recherche et de la stratégie, FAP Canada

Extrait : « Je pense que la formulation du message et la minimisation des questions relatives aux droits humains en Chine envoient le mauvais signal au mauvais moment. Cela fait courir un danger plus conséquent : celui de stabiliser et d'améliorer les relations avec la Chine est interrompu par certaines mesures, comme le besoin de mettre en sourdine les critiques, de pratiquer l'autocensure ou de rester silencieux sur les questions sérieuses que la RPC considère sensibles. Je pense que ce sera une erreur.

« Une politique chinoise sérieuse doit être menée sur deux volets : un premier sur lequel l'engagement bénéficiera à nos intérêts... et un deuxième qui garde un regard lucide sur les questions relatives aux droits humains, à la sécurité économique et à la sécurité nationale. Nous ne devons pas nous auto-censurer ni envoyer un signal à Pékin que nous sommes prêts à reculer sur nos principes au nom de la stabilité dans ces relations. »

Insights from Mark Carney's Asia Visit: Canada, Germany, and Indo-Pacific partnerships

KAS Canada Unfiltered (podcast), March 26, 2026

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: “The Iran conflict is having massive global implications...and Canada certainly as an energy and agricultural superpower, this is a moment for us to really step up and get as much of our products to market as possible. If there was ever a moment for us to diversify trading relations and try to go global, this is it...that essentially, unfortunately, means still relying on U.S export infrastructure to ship more LNG and oil to the U.S., then through the Gulf of Mexico to Europe," and parts of the Middle East and Asia.

Nadjibulla adds that "if anything, the Iran conflict stresses the need to diversify supplies and to have as many options as possible."

Carney’s mega anti-Trump alliance starts quest to save world trade

POLITICO, March 25, 2026

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: “There is clearly growing recognition that if consensus-based reform at the WTO remains blocked, willing countries will need parallel mechanisms to move ahead on specific issues,” said Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.

The EU and CPTPP are working to “build coalitions around areas where there is already substantial convergence,” she added. “This is not about replacing the WTO, but about creating a complementary platform for a large group of like-minded economies to move forward on digital trade, investment facilitation, and supply chains.”

The partnership points to a bigger strategic story, she continued, “the emergence of a wider middle-power trade coalition designed to preserve as much of the rules-based order as possible, while also creating new pathways to update it.”

Advancing Arctic Sovereignty Through Indo-Pacific Defence Partnerships

Policy Magazine, March 24, 2026

Featuring: Hema Nadarajah, Program Manager, Southeast Asia, APF Canada

Excerpt: "Protecting Canada’s sovereignty in the Arctic depends increasingly on secure access to supply chains, fabrication hubs, and software-control regimes beyond its borders.

The federal government’s recent Arctic investment—exceeding $40 billion across defence infrastructure, transportation, energy, and surveillance—signals a shift toward sustained northern capability. Yet this shift also highlights a structural reality: the platforms that underpin Arctic defence rely on globally concentrated production networks, particularly in the Indo-Pacific."

‘Stronger Philippines-Canada ties needed for critical minerals supply chain’

The Philippine Star, March 22, 2026

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: Vina Nadjibulla, APF Canada vice president for research, specifically identified critical minerals – which underpin high-tech industries and advanced defence systems – as a cornerstone of the two nations’ deepening partnership and said the two countries must leverage their complementary strengths to build a more resilient economic future in the region.

“This is the moment to deploy our critical minerals, both for our digital needs and our sustainability goals, as well as obviously defence industrial actions,” Nadjibulla said.

She also underscored the strategic necessity of “building supply chains that are democratic, that are not just dependent on China,” to be able to navigate an increasingly “divided and dangerous” global landscape.

Commentary: Middle power pragmatism underpins Canada’s outreach to India and China

CNA, March 20, 2026

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: In the backdrop of a changing world, Mr Carney’s trip to China was not simply about stabilizing relations, according to Ms. Vina Nadjibulla, vice-president of research and strategy at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.

“It was about signalling, and beginning to implement, a more independent Canadian foreign policy in response to fundamental shifts in the global economic and security order – and a growing recognition that Canada can no longer rely on old assumptions about alliances, global rules, predictability, or insulation from geopolitical shock, including in its relationship with the United States,” she wrote.

Canada not choosing between Beijing, Taipei: analyst

Taipei Times, March 20, 2026

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: Nadjibulla highlighted the economic complementarity between Taiwan and Canada, saying that Taiwan can benefit from Canada's strengths in energy, resources and research, while Canada can tap Taiwan's manufacturing capabilities.

Diversifying energy supply sources could help Taiwan boost its resilience, particularly given geopolitical uncertainties, she said.

"With everything that's happening in the Middle East right now, you're also vulnerable because you're getting so much of your energy from a part of the world that's actually much more volatile," she added.

Critics urge Ottawa to help Inuit resist Chinese surveillance, economic dependence

The Canadian Press, March 19, 2026

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: Asia Pacific Foundation vice-president Vina Nadjibulla said she’s noticed that cabinet ministers have avoided calling out China as a threat actor ever since Prime Minister Mark Carney’s January visit to Beijing.

“We need to be careful not to move too far into self-censoring, in an attempt to not cause unhappiness on the part of Beijing,” she said. She noted that Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand was the only panellist at a Munich Security Conference discussion in February who did not name China as a threat in the Arctic.

“Our foreign minister exclusively focused her remarks on Russia — the word China didn’t enter into her discussions,” Nadjibulla said. “When our energy minister (Tim Hodgson) speaks of critical minerals, he speaks about the dominance of a country, or dominance of one player, without naming China, when it’s obvious that we’re speaking about China.”

Philippines eyes critical minerals accord with Canada

Business Inquirer (Philippines), March 17, 2026

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: “We hope that with Canada, we can also have a critical minerals agreement,” Rodolfo said at a forum on Philippines-Canada trade organized by Stratbase Institute and the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.

...APF Canada Vice President Vina Nadjibulla said diversifying supply chains has become more urgent amid rising geopolitical risks.

“This is the moment to deploy our critical minerals, both for our digital needs and our sustainability goals, as well as obviously defense industrial actions,” Nadjibulla said at the same forum.

Hormuz woes testing Asia's energy security; Canada offers solution

ANC, March 17, 2026

Featuring: Barrett Bingley, Asia Regional Director (Singapore Office), APF Canada

Excerpt: "At the Canada-in-Asia Conference last month [energy security] was a massive topic... and that's really come to a head with the [Iran] conflict."

"Unfortunately, Canada is not in an immediate" position to offer a "solution to the concerns and possible crisis the Philippines" and other Asian economies are facing with global oil restrictions.

Bingley said he sees potential in a medium-term solution involving Canadian LNG exports to Philippines, avoiding supply chain chokepoints.

PH, Canada urged to work together on supply chains for critical minerals amid global developments

Manila Bulletin, March 17, 2026

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: During the recent conference organized by Stratbase Institute and the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada), APF Canada Vice-President, Research & Strategy, Vina Nadjibulla said it's a strategic necessity for both countries to build "supply chains that are democratic, that are not just dependent on China," to be able to navigate an increasingly "divided and dangerous" global landscape.

Critical minerals, she said, serve as "a cornerstone of the two nations' deepening partnership."

She said the Philippines and Canada must leverage their complementary strengths to build a more resilient economic future in the region."This is the moment to deploy our critical minerals, both for our digital needs and our sustainability goals, as well as obviously defense industrial actions."

The Canada-India energy trade pact is a very big deal

Resource Works, March 16, 2026

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: It’s expected that a CEPA between Canada and India could be concluded by the end of this year, though it could take longer, said Vina Nadjibulla.

In the meantime, the Strategic Energy Partnership allows the countries to move forward on energy trade now.

“In the short term, energy’s an area where I think we can move really quickly,” Nadjibulla said.

“Given the volatility in the market, there is something to be said for a reliable, predictable source like Canada,” Nadjibulla said. “So I think there is an argument now that India is more interested in Canadian oil and gas than it has been historically.”

Critical minerals, critical partnership

Manila Standard, March 16, 2026

Featuring: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: The challenges of critical mineral extraction and supply chains emerging "framed discussions at a recent conference themed 'Building Economic Security through Strengthened Canada–Philippines Partnership' organized by the Stratbase Institute and the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, in partnership with the Embassy of Canada in the Philippines. Policymakers, diplomats, and industry experts examined how closer cooperation between the Philippines and Canada could help strengthen supply chains, expand energy capacity, and unlock more value from critical minerals.

"...Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada Vice President Vina Nadjibulla observed that the two countries bring complementary strengths to the partnership."

The closed Strait of Hormuz is testing Asia’s energy security. The answer lies across the Pacific—in Canada

Fortune, March 15, 2026

Guest Contributor: Barrett Bingley, Asia Regional Director (Singapore Office), APF Canada

Excerpt: "When IRGC brigadier-general Ebrahim Jabari declared the Strait of Hormuz to be closed, 150 oil and LNG tankers decided to stay put rather than risk getting fired upon. Qatar Energy and other oil and gas producers soon halted production, declaring force majeure. The effect on Asia was immediate, with LNG benchmarks jumping 39% in just one session and governments now frantically ordering staff to work-from-home to save energy.

"...If Asian countries want a solution to their energy woes in the Middle East, perhaps they should look, well, to the east—across the Pacific to energy sources in North America, and Canada in particular."

Carney’s Indo-Pacific Diplomacy and Canada’s New Middle-Power Strategy

Policy Magazine, March 15, 2026

Guest Contributor: Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President Research & Strategy, APF Canada

Excerpt: "Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent tour of India, Australia, and Japan was more than a series of diplomatic engagements. It was the first real test of the foreign-policy vision Carney outlined in his global-milestone Davos speech: that in a more fragmented and uncertain world, middle powers like Canada must diversify partnerships, strengthen economic resilience, and work more closely with like-minded countries.

"...Taken together, the three visits highlight an important nuance in Carney’s emerging foreign policy. Conversations in India, Australia, and Japan made clear that Canada’s Indo-Pacific partners are not embracing a narrative of rupture with the United States."

Canadian think tank experts urge Taiwan to join forces with Canada to ensure energy security

CNA, March 13, 2026

Guest Contributor: Barrett Bingley, Asia Regional Director (Singapore Office), APF Canada

Excerpt: "Barrett Bingley...told the Central News Agency that it is dangerous for Taiwan's energy lifeline to pass through a strait controlled by an adversary.

"This is because the Strait of Hormuz could be influenced by Iran in a crisis, while the South China Sea is a sea area claimed by China. In other words, Taiwan's key energy supply routes are simultaneously affected by the geopolitics of two potential adversaries.

"Bingley suggested that Taiwan take this opportunity to reposition its energy strategy. He said that Canada is actively expanding its liquefied natural gas (LNG) production capacity, with projects such as LNG Canada Phase 2 in British Columbia and the Ksi Lisims LNG project underway...and Taiwan should invest in Canadian LNG to take control of its energy security."

Dans l'actualité

Réactions médiatiques de la FAP Canada aux derniers enjeux et événements en Asie