Hybrid warfare isn’t theoretical — it’s already here

A provocative new policy paper warns that Canada is dangerously behind in recognizing a converging threat, where organized crime, terrorism, and state-sponsored hybrid warfare are no longer separate challenges but part of a single, interconnected web. Published this week by the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, the paper argues that countries such as Russia, Iran, and China are increasingly using criminal networks as proxies on Canadian soil. We are joined by one of the paper’s authors, Calvin Chrustie, a senior partner at Critical Risk Team and a leading voice on transnational organized crime and national security.