David Vigneault, ex-intelligence chief: Democracies are being destabilised

“This is one of the exact aspect of hybrid warfare of Russia… They are targeting us specifically to create dissentions, to create and to prop up artificially some voices in our societies that otherwise would be quite marginal and create dissentions. So they want to attack us and make sure that our democracies are more fragile, because the more fragile we are, the less we're able to counter their aggressive actions.”

Evan Davis speaks to David Vigneault, former director of Canada’s intelligence services, about the geopolitical instabilities and technologies that are re-shaping the world order.

Between 2017 and 2024, he was responsible for the operations of CSIS, the country’s foreign intelligence and security agency. This period presented a number of challenges for Vigneault and his organisation, such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the rise of AI, and an unpredictable Trump presidency across the border.

You’re going to hear his take on current tensions around the world, what keeps him up at night, and why he thinks cooperation is key.

Thank you to the PM team for their help in making this programme.

The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with Ukrainian intelligence chief Vadym Skibitsky, the World Health Organisation’s Hanan Balkhy, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts.

Presenter: Evan Davis

Producers: Rosie Seed and Ben Cooper

Editors: Justine Lang and Farhana Haider

Get in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.

(Image: David Vigneault. Credit: Reuters)