This summer, fourth-year Trinity student Zach Lidder visited NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, with support from the Trinity College Experiential Learning Fund, as part of a multilateral negotiation training exercise. Earning a certificate in multilateral negotiation, Zach described this trip as “the opportunity of a lifetime!”
Zach shares his reflections below.
“I have been a proponent of NATO for many years, and founded the Young NATO Club at U of T St. George Campus, which has engaged many students in the International Relations Program. This summer, I had the opportunity to participate in high-level negotiation exercises and engage directly with NATO staff, generals, military planners, and diplomats on some of the alliance’s most pressing strategic issues. Discussions focused on the ongoing conflict involving Iran and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, NATO’s commitment to increasing defence spending to 5% of GDP, advances in drone technology, concerns over the United States’ commitment to the Alliance, and preparations for the upcoming NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey. One of the most memorable experiences of my trip was witnessing the increasing Canadian involvement in NATO. I had the opportunity to meet with numerous Canadian military leaders, gaining firsthand insight into Canada’s increasingly active role within the Alliance. I gained insight into Canada’s defence financing through the newly announced Defence, Security and Resilience Bank (DSRB), Arctic security efforts, climate resilience strategy, and a range of other strategic priorities. I am grateful for this opportunity. It has given me fresh perspectives on NATO and Canadian defence that I look forward to sharing with the Trinity community. I would also like to extend his sincere thanks to Trinity faculty members Dr. John Meehan, former Director of the Bill Graham Centre for Contemporary International History; Provost Nicolas Terpstra; Dr. Timothy Sayle, former Director of the International Relations Program; and the late Donald Rickerd, whose mentorship and support have been instrumental throughout my journey.
Trinity College student Zach Lidder is a Community Advisor and Heaslip Scholar. Zach is also the founder of the student podcast TrinTalks and is a 4th-year student studying Peace, Conflict and Justice Studies, History, and Art History. This summer, Zach was also named a Presidential Fellow by the U.S. Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress’s Presidential Fellows Program.
