Roundtable: Doctrinal Evolutions and Technological Innovations in Contemporary Navies

This roundtable offers an in-depth reflection on the transformation of naval doctrines in the age of technological disruption. The integration of autonomous systems and artificial intelligence is prompting navies to redefine their doctrinal, capability, and operational priorities. Yet these challenges are not entirely new: previous decades were also marked by cycles of innovation, doctrinal reorganization, and debates over the nature of maritime power.

By bringing together scholars and senior naval officers from several countries, this discussion aims to examine—through a comparative lens—the actual scope of current transformations, the continuities or ruptures that can be observed, and the trade-offs between technological adaptation, industrial considerations, and international cooperation in a context marked by the resurgence of inter-state tensions.

October 30 (online via Zoom) at 2:30 p.m. (Paris time).
Please note that during this week there will be a 5-hour time difference between Europe (Paris–Berlin time zone) and Canada (Ottawa–Montreal time zone).

Moderator:

Clare McKendry (CAN) – Ph.D. Candidate, University of Waterloo.

Speakers (pending confirmation):

Vice Admiral (Ret.) Brian Santarpia (CAN) – Former Commander, Maritime Forces Atlantic and Joint Task Force Atlantic, Royal Canadian Navy
Dr. Sarah Kirchberger (FIN/GER) – Academic Director, Institute for Security Policy at Kiel University (ISPK); Specialist in Naval Strategy and Maritime Security
Dr. Rob Huebert (CAN) – Associate Professor, Centre for Military, Security and Strategic Studies, University of Calgary; Expert on Arctic and Naval Policy
Rear Admiral Laurent Bechler (FRA) – Director, Centre d’études stratégiques de la Marine (CESM), French Navy General Staff

Partners

Would you like to attend this roundtable and receive the Zoom link?
Simply send the following message to info@forum-defense-strategie.org. We will send you the Zoom link a few days before the event and again the day before.

“Dear Sir or Madam,

I would like to attend the roundtable on October 30. Thank you for taking my request into account.

Best regards,”