Your account has been succesfully created.

EN FR

The Morning Brief
Log in

Password

Keep me logged in

Forgot your password?
Subscribe

Spotlight | United States, Venezuela
Venezuela crisis deepens rift between US spy chief Gabbard and CIA head Ratcliffe

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe on 26 March 2025 in Washington. © Shawn Thew/EPA/MaxPPP

Behind the two leaders' personal quarrels and individual ambitions, two contrasting visions of US foreign policy exist within the intelligence community and the Trump administration. [...]

Published on 18/11/2025 at 05:00 GMT Reading time 3 minutes Raphaël Ramos

This article may be accessed by subscribers

In order to ensure high-quality and independent journalism, Intelligence Online relies solely on subscriptions from its readers, with no advertising, no events and no consulting work.

Several offers are available depending on your particular reading needs

Consult our offers

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

Create your free account

Discover our work by making use of the following possibilities: daily newsletters, a selection of free articles, keyword alerts.

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

create a free account

United States
White House and Congress turn up heat on Tulsi Gabbard

The Director of National Intelligence currently retains Donald Trump's confidence. But her actions are increasingly contested, even within the presidential camp.

Subscribers only Agencies, Operations 16.02.2026

US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard during an FBI search of a Georgia election centre, on 28 January 2026.

France, United States
CIA-DGSE collaboration on China comes to a halt

Joint recruitment operations led by the CIA and the DGSE on Chinese targets abroad have been abruptly put on hold. The decision to pause this collaboration is unrelated to Donald Trump's return to power.

Subscribers only Agencies, Operations, Back-door diplomacy 16.01.2026

A worker cleaning the lobby floor at CIA headquarters in Langley, US.

United States
Conservative think tanks mirror rifts in US security apparatus after Caracas op

Donald Trump posture of restraint during his first term helped to rally an anti-interventionist movement which has grown during his second term. The US operation in Venezuela on 3 January took his supporters by surprise.

Subscribers only Agencies 13.01.2026

US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a meeting with US oil company executives in the White House, on 9 January 2026.

The Agencies' Gazette
France's DGSE and the Americas, Pentagon, Xavier Moreau, Paris-Africa, Beijing nixes ‘G2'

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community.

FranceDGSE pipe dream of Americas mission centre

USPentagon seeks candidate to lead drug trafficking fight

France/RussiaFamily fund to counter EU sanctions

France/AfricaFrench spies back to Africa in 2026?

China/USBeijing seeks to veto ‘G2' label

Subscribers only 12.01.2026

Spotlight | Venezuela
Beijing and Moscow conspicuously absent from Caracas intel support before US attack

Russian and Chinese intelligence support in Caracas appears to have been minimal both before and during Washington's military operation on Saturday. Analysis of US imagery shows that the operation had been in the works since October.

Subscribers only Operations, Space 08.01.2026

Supporters of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro protesting in downtown Caracas against the US attacks on 3 January 2026.

Spotlight | United States, Venezuela
CIA returns to Trump's good books after Venezuela operation

The intelligence agency's contribution to the success of the US operation in Caracas marks a return to favour of the CIA with Donald Trump, who had been dismissive of the intelligence world during his first term.

Subscribers only Agencies, Operations 06.01.2026

US President Donald Trump and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.

United States
Tulsi Gabbard without military adviser as Caribbean tensions rise

The job of military adviser to the Director of National Intelligence, a vital link between the intelligence community and the Pentagon, remains vacant despite increasing US pressure on drug traffickers and the Venezuelan regime.

Subscribers only Agencies, Operations 21.11.2025

US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard at the White House in Washington, DC on 9 October 2025.

Spymaster | United States
Mark Warner, the senator warning that US intelligence is being out-teched by China

The White House's restrictions on congressional oversight, the erratic decisions of some officials and their impact on agencies' effectiveness, are causing concern in Congress, well beyond partisan divisions. The Senate Intelligence Committee vice-chair Mark Warner is trying to mobilise public opinion and elected officials over Donald Trump's intelligence policy.

Subscribers only Defence 24.10.2025

United States
Tulsi Gabbard tightens grip on strategic analysis

ODNI chief Tulsi Gabbard is putting her stamp on the production of strategic estimates by installing allies who share her vision of a foreign policy characterised by ‘restraint'. But she is struggling to stem the erosion of her influence at the White House.

Subscribers only Agencies 14.10.2025

The US Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Tulsi Gabbard, on 21 September 2025.

Spotlight | United States
Tulsi Gabbard to rely more heavily on Project 2025 playbook

Dennis Kirk, a leading architect of the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation's Project 2025, now holds a key position at the top US intelligence agency ODNI, as its head, Tulsi Gabbard, has plans to slash its staff by 50%.

Subscribers only Agencies 09.10.2025

Dennis Kirk was appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) in late September 2025.

United States
New US counterintelligence chief faces uncertain future

The poor cousin of the US intelligence community, counterintelligence finds itself at a crossroads, with a new director of limited influence and facing contradictory reform plans.

Subscribers only Operations 01.10.2025

Spotlight | United States
US intelligence steps up action on drug trafficking finance networks

The Trump administration's increased pressure on drug cartels is not only military. Financing networks are also being targeted, and officials have warned the allocated means are insufficient.

Subscribers only Operations 10.09.2025

US Attorney General Pam Bondi announces arrests and drug seizures from a Drug Enforcement Administration fentanyl sting operation in New Mexico, 6 May 2025.

Spotlight | United States
Tulsi Gabbard suspends release of strategic US intelligence report

The latest four-yearly Global Trends report compiled by the National Intelligence Council, highly regarded due to its wide distribution and the interest it generates, has been deemed incompatible with Donald Trump's national security priorities.

Subscribers only Agencies 09.09.2025

The US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.

United States
Tulsi Gabbard recruits Kennedy clan's spy

Amaryllis Fox Kennedy, a former CIA officer who became campaign manager for her stepfather Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is now responsible for modernising the US intelligence community.

Subscribers only Agencies 27.08.2025

The US Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Tulsi Gabbard.

United States
How Ratcliffe has been key to shielding CIA from Trump's intelligence upheavals

The CIA's indispensable John Ratcliffe (2/2): The spymaster's management, both internally and towards the White House and Congress, has enabled the agency to strengthen its position within the intelligence community as it undergoes major changes.

Subscribers only Operations 20.08.2025

Spotlight | United States
From the CIA to the White House, the striking rise of John Ratcliffe

The CIA's indispensable John Ratcliffe (1/2): The former Texas congressman is overshadowing Donald Trump's intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard. The political skill of the agency's head also serves to highlight the missteps of many of his colleagues.

Subscribers only Agencies 19.08.2025

CIA Director John Ratcliffe, 25 March 2025. In the background, Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard.

Spotlight | United States
Four years at Langley, part 2: William Burns and the CIA's adaptation to strategic competition

In the space of four years, former diplomat William Burns has put his stamp on the organisation of the CIA to support presidential priorities in an international environment transformed by technology. At the same time, he has sought to preserve Langley's influence in Washington.

Subscribers only Operations 07.01.2025