Freedom of Navigation isn't just about ships.
It's about whether the world can keep moving—and what it takes to protect that freedom when it’s challenged.
Join a conversation with the leaders who’ve helped shape today’s maritime security.
Chokepoints & Flashpoints
When Freedom of Navigation Draws a Line in the Sea
RAUSI Fireside Chat
From the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea to the South China Sea, Taiwan Strait and the Arctic, some of the world’s most important waterways are also becoming points of geopolitical friction.
Iran and the Houthis have demonstrated how quickly conflict can disrupt commercial shipping and global energy flows. China asserts expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea and contests navigation and military activity in surrounding waters. Russia’s shadow fleet and threats to critical undersea infrastructure raise different questions about how states protect the maritime systems on which they depend. Meanwhile, competing interpretations of jurisdiction continue to shape the future of Arctic navigation.
When freedom of navigation is challenged, what does it actually take to keep the world’s shipping lanes open?
On October 8, 2026, RAUSI invites you to join two accomplished naval commanders for a Fireside Chat examining Freedom of Navigation from both strategic and operational perspectives.
Experience from the Bridge
- Rear Admiral (Ret.) Lars Saunes
Former Chief of the Royal Norwegian Navy, Rear Admiral Saunes brings extensive experience in naval operations, northern waters and maritime strategy. He is currently a professor at the U.S. Naval War College. - Rear Admiral (Ret.) Robert Girrier, USN
Former Deputy Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet and Director of Operations for U.S. Pacific Command, Rear Admiral Girrier also commanded the Nimitz and Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Groups and served as the U.S. Navy’s first Director of Unmanned Warfare Systems.
Together, they bring perspectives shaped not only by strategy and policy, but by the practical realities of commanding naval forces in some of the world’s most consequential maritime regions.
Join us for a candid conversation about the relationship between maritime law, naval power, global trade and national interests—and bring your questions for the live Q&A.
Thursday, 08 October 2026
1900 hours (Mountain) via Zoom
(1800 PST / 2100 EST / 0300 CET next day)
Online | Free | Registration required
Meet Your Flag Officers
Join RAUSI for a timely discussion with two distinguished retired Rear Admirals who have commanded fleets, advised governments, and operated at the forefront of modern maritime strategy.
Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Lars Saunes is the former Chief of Naval Operations and Commander of the Royal Norwegian Navy. A career submariner and senior NATO maritime leader, he commanded naval forces during a period of increasing strategic competition in the North Atlantic and Arctic. Today, he serves as a Professor and Chief of Naval Operations Distinguished International Fellow at the U.S. Naval War College, where he contributes to the education of senior military leaders and the study of maritime strategy and international security.
Rear Admiral Robert Girrier (Ret’d USN) held some of the U.S. Navy’s most senior operational commands, including Deputy Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, Director of Operations for U.S. Pacific Command, and Commander of both the Nimitz and Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Groups. He also became the U.S. Navy’s first Director of Unmanned Warfare Systems, helping shape the integration of emerging technologies into modern naval operations. His experience spans carrier strike group operations, Indo-Pacific security, maritime strategy, and the future of naval warfare.
Where Are the Lines?
The conversation will explore several of the tensions shaping freedom of navigation today.
The UNCLOS Divide
How do differing interpretations of international maritime law affect navigation, territorial claims and naval operations—and what does it mean that the United States relies on customary international law while remaining outside UNCLOS?
The Chokepoint Vulnerability
What happens when strategically important waterways and maritime infrastructure are threatened by conflict, mines, sabotage, electronic interference or other asymmetric tactics?
The Shadow and the Shield
How should states respond to grey-zone activity, shadow fleets and contested jurisdiction without turning every maritime dispute into a military confrontation?
Breaking the Ice explored how changing access to the Arctic is reshaping commerce, sovereignty and security. Chokepoints & Flashpoints asks the next question: when access to the world’s waterways is challenged, what does it take to protect it?
Join us for a candid conversation about the relationship between maritime law, naval power, global trade and national interests—and bring your questions for the live Q&A.
Who should attend?
Whether you serve in uniform, work in government, shape public policy, study international affairs, practice maritime or international law, or simply want to better understand one of today’s defining strategic issues, this free online Fireside Chat offers a rare opportunity to engage directly with two senior naval leaders whose experience spans the Arctic, the North Atlantic, and the Indo-Pacific.
Don't miss out!
Register now to secure your spot.
Individual Registration
Event Details
Thursday, 08 October 2026
1900 hours (Mountain) via Zoom
(1800 PST / 2100 EST / 0300 CET next day)
Free and open to all – registration required to attend.
Questions?
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Watch for details of our next RAUSI presentation.
RAUSI Fireside Chats bring together leading subject matter experts and the public for non-partisan online discussions exploring the issues shaping Canada’s security, defence, and strategic interests.
Each session features an engaging conversation between experts, followed by audience questions and discussion. Topics range from military affairs and international security to geopolitics, economics, technology, and the evolving challenges facing Canada and its allies.
By encouraging thoughtful dialogue and diverse perspectives, RAUSI Fireside Chats help Canadians better understand the complex issues influencing today’s security environment.
Learn more about RAUSI and our mission.