Canada as a Middle Power: A Conversation with Prof. Kawser | Global North Geopolitics Explained

In this exclusive interview, I sit down with Professor Kawser — Bangladesh Army veteran, faculty member at the University of Winnipeg, and Executive Director of CRRI,C — to unpack Canada’s evolving role in the geopolitics of the Global North.

Drawing from his military background, academic research, and policy experience, Professor Kawser offers sharp, evidence-based insights on:

Canada’s middle-power identity:
Why does Canada still spend only ~1.3% of its GDP on defense, and where has it nonetheless shaped major decisions among Western allies?

U.S. Autonomy vs. alignment with the U.S.:
With NORAD and massive bilateral trade binding the two countries tightly, when does Canada chart its own path — and how should Global South nations read this?

❄️ The Arctic frontline:
Is Ottawa’s northern strategy stabilizing the region, or introducing new friction with Russia and China? What can smaller states learn?

🌍 Sanctions & the rules-based order:
Can Canada balance tough stances on Russia/China without harming its own economic interests?

🤝 Soft power realities:
Peacekeeping legacy, universities, migration pathways — where does Canada actually shift policy outcomes, and where does its influence fall short compared to European middle powers?

As someone who previously served with Professor Kawser in the Bangladesh Army and later worked as a Senior Research Assistant on Rohingya research at CRRI,C, it was an honour to host this deep dive.
If you’re interested in geopolitics, middle-power strategy, or Canada’s place in a changing world, this conversation is for you.

📺 Watch, share, and let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Видео Canada as a Middle Power: A Conversation with Prof. Kawser | Global North Geopolitics Explained канала Del H Khan