Conference: The Arctic: Between the Reshaping of Alliances and the Consolidation of Sovereignty
This event will be held in French
This special event, designed to foster collaboration between Montreal and Paris in a shared commitment to strengthening ties between Canada and France, provides an opportunity to welcome Ms. Nathalie G. Drouin, Canada’s new Ambassador to France. This symposium is co-organized by Aubin Gonzalez Lapos, Executive Secretary General of France-Amériques, and Professor Sarah-Myriam Martin-Brûlé, Director of the FrancoPaix Center.
Objective: To provide a forum for high-level strategic reflection on the Arctic, bringing together European and North American perspectives on issues of sovereignty, hybrid threats, and climate challenges, in order to identify concrete avenues for reshaping alliances, strengthening defense capabilities, and protecting critical infrastructure, while integrating Indigenous partnerships and multilateral cooperation frameworks.
PROGRAM:
2:30 PM – 2:40 PM | Opening Remarks, Professor Sarah-Myriam Martin-Brûlé, Director of the FrancoPaix Center, and Aubin Gonzalez Lapos, Executive Secretary General of France-Amériques.
2:40 PM – 3:00 PM | KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Canada’s Ambassador to France and Monaco – Ms. Nathalie G. Drouin
3:00 PM – 4:20 PM | Stories from the Far North: Two Explorers Facing a Changing Arctic
This panel aims to bring together the perspectives of two explorers dedicated to the Arctic to better understand the rapid transformations of the Far North in the face of climate change, sovereignty issues, and new geopolitical dynamics. Through their presentations, Jean-Louis Étienne and Jean Lemire will share their field experience and their insights into the changes underway, followed by a joint discussion and a Q&A session with the audience. Fireside chat between Dr. Étienne and Mr. Lemire, followed by Q&A
- Dr. Jean-Louis Étienne, physician, polar explorer, writer, and IUCN Ambassador for the Poles and the Ocean
- Jean Lemire, Envoy for Climate Change and Northern and Arctic Issues for the Government of Quebec
Moderators: Professor Sarah-Myriam Martin-Brûlé, Director of the FrancoPaix Center, and Aubin Gonzalez Lapos, Executive Secretary General of France-Amériques.
4:20 PM – 4:40 PM | Coffee Break
4:45 PM – 5:30 PM | Panel I – Capabilities, Innovation, and Multi-Domain Security in the Arctic
A discussion bringing together policymakers, military leaders, and industry representatives to examine operational and technological responses to Arctic security challenges in a pan-domain environment, covering submarine, land, air, high-altitude, and space domains, including the growing role of satellite capabilities in surveillance, communications, and Arctic security. Moderator: Aubin Gonzalez Lapos, Executive Secretary General of France-Amériques
- Dr. Gaëlle Rivard Piché, Executive Director, Conference of Defense Associations (CDA) and CDA Institute
- Air Corps General Dominique Tardif, Major General of the Air and Space Force
- Robert Sinclair Canadian Ambassador to Sweden
5:45 PM – 6:30 PM | Panel II – Sovereignty, Hybrid Threats, and Disinformation in the Arctic
An expert discussion focused on sovereignty challenges, emerging forms of strategic competition, and hybrid threats shaping the Arctic security environment, with particular attention to implications for European, Canadian, and broader transatlantic/transarctic security. Moderator: Professor Sarah-Myriam Martin-Brûlé, Director of the FrancoPaix Center
- Dr. Jean-Christophe Boucher, Associate Professor at the University of Calgary
- Mikaa Blugeon-Mered, researcher in the geopolitics of the energy transition and polar specialist, lecturer at Sciences Po, the University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières, and Mohammed VI Polytechnic University
- Dr. Florian Krampe, Director of Studies, Peace and Development, at SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute), Director of the SIPRI Climate Change and Risk Programme
- Admiral Hervé de Bonnaventure, Defense Advisor to the CEO of the MBDA Group (to be confirmed)
6:30 PM – 6:40 PM | Closing Remarks
6:45 PM | Reception
Our thanks go to the President of France-Amériques, Admiral Alain Coldefy, the team at the Canadian Embassy in France, and the Centre FrancoPaix. We also acknowledge the support of the Strategic Analysis Network. Finally, we extend our warmest thanks to Colonel Romain Bethoux of the Air and Space Force for his essential contribution to this initiative.
This symposium was organized in conjunction with the Transatlantic Symposium held at France-Amériques on September 29, 2025, and the Transpacific Symposium on January 21, 2026.
Comments are closed.