Opinion: Vancouver is the strategic choice for the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank

Vancouver, B.C. Photo by jamesvancouver /Getty Images

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The final op-ed in a series in which advocates for the five Canadian cities vying to be the home of NATO’s new Defence, Security and Resilience Bank make their case. Today, B.C. Premier David Eby, B.C. Minister Ravi Kahlon and Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim on why the western seaport is the right choice.

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Today’s global landscape is shifting faster than many institutions designed to navigate it. In Davos, Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized that Canada is working to connect the world’s major democratic economies: championing a bridge between the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the European Union. This vision places Canada at the hinge point between the Indo-Pacific and Europe, advancing resilience, strategic cooperation and shared security across regions that matter most to our future. It reflects a world where continental partnerships are increasingly interconnected, and where Canada must be able to operate across the geographies it aims to unite.

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That is precisely why Canada was selected as the host country for the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank (DSRB). If Canada intends to build a system capable of coordinating across Europe, Asia and the Arctic within a single working day, the DSRB must be anchored in Vancouver. It is geographically the only major centre where business can be conducted with Europe and Asia in a single day. This is not simply a convenience. It is a long-term operational advantage.

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Just last week, as western Canada’s premiers debated economic priorities — each of them agreed that Vancouver is the best place in the country for this bank.

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Vancouver is Canada’s tri-continental bridge from Europe to Asia, with direct Arctic connection, mirroring the evolving priorities of global security, supply-chain resilience and allied cooperation.

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Vancouver is a globally connected city with the depth of talent required for the DSRB to succeed immediately. It is home to Canada’s largest port, leading concentrations of expertise in cybersecurity, AI, quantum and digital infrastructure, alongside sophisticated financial, legal and governance talent. The city offers secure, move-in ready headquarters options in the downtown core, full consular representation, a diverse and multilingual workforce, and experience in multilateral institutions, international finance, and security-adjacent industries, meaning the bank can launch operations without delay.

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The region also hosts core defence-linked assets: the Royal Canadian Navy’s Pacific Fleet at CFB Esquimalt; a globally significant marine industry; aerospace clusters integrated with the Boeing value chain; and companies producing Arctic-capable logistics and mobility systems. These aren’t abstract advantages. They are real, working systems that align with the DSRB’s purpose and give it immediate operational relevance. Locating the bank in Vancouver places it inside these networks, enabling the institution to deliver tangible results from day one.

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This moment also invites Canada to think more broadly about how its strengths are distributed across the country. Most of Canada’s major federal institutions remain concentrated in the East. Selecting Vancouver would demonstrate that Ottawa intends to invest in and leverage the full geography of the country, especially the region most aligned with the shifting centre of gravity in global trade and security. It would signal a commitment to ensuring Western Canada is fully woven into the country’s long-term strategic and economic future.