Brian Crombie Radio Hour - Epi 1549 - Venezuela, Iran, and the Return of Hard Power Politics with Joe Varner

Global politics are entering a sharper, more dangerous phase — and Canada can’t afford to look away. On this episode of The Brian Crombie Radio Hour, Brian is joined by Joe Varner, Senior Fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and former Deputy Director of the Conference of Defence Associations, for a clear-eyed examination of two critical geopolitical flashpoints: Venezuela and Iran. Joe explains why recent U.S. actions in Venezuela are not simply about regime change, but about countering growing influence from Russia, China, Cuba, and Iran in the Western Hemisphere. The conversation then turns to Iran, where Joe outlines why targeting the economic power of the Revolutionary Guard may be more effective than direct military confrontation. Together, they discuss:Why Venezuela has become a strategic battleground for global powersHow oil, legitimacy, and foreign interference sustain the Maduro regimeWhat the U.S. National Security Strategy means for the Western HemisphereWhy Iran’s Revolutionary Guard is the regime’s true center of gravityHow economic pressure is now a core national security toolWhy Canada risks geopolitical irrelevanceWhat Canada must rethink about defence, sovereignty, and Arctic securityThis is not abstract geopolitics — it’s a sober, realistic look at how power is being exercised today, and what it means for Canada’s future.