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Former French Prime Minister Francois Fillon, in Paris on 20 March 2024. © Ludovic Marin/Pool/AFP

Ex-French PM François Fillon heads to Gulf for Forward Global

Now an adviser to corporate intelligence firm Forward Global, the former politician is expected in Abu Dhabi next week.

Subscribers only Corporate Intel 05.12.2025

US President Donald Trump and Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman in Washington, DC on 19 November 2025. © Brendan Smialowski/AFP

Riyadh seeking help from French intelligence to track down Hezbollah's financial networks

Pressured by Washington to do more against the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, Riyadh has turned to French intelligence in the hope of tapping into its expertise. A discreet meeting between the DGSE and Saudi intelligence was held last week.

Subscribers only Back-Door Diplomacy 05.12.2025

French ambassador to Indo-Pacific posted to Malaysia

Marc Abensour, who has been France's ambassador for the Indo-Pacific since October 2022, is set to succeed Alex Cruau as French ambassador in Kuala Lumpur.

Subscribers only Back-Door Diplomacy 05.12.2025

Tracfin in crisis mode after damaging media reports

Antoine Magnant, the head of France's anti-money laundering service Tracfin. © Teresa Suarez/EPA/MaxPPP

Subscribers only Agencies 04.12.2025

While Macron is in China, Beijing sends Xinjiang delegation to Paris

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi welcomes French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron at Beijing International Airport on 3 December 2025. © Ludovic Marin/Pool/Reuters

Subscribers only Back-Door Diplomacy 03.12.2025

French defence security intelligence beefs up digital tools

Having completed its move into its brand new headquarters near Paris, France's DRSD military counterintelligence service has now turned its focus to digital projects.

Subscribers only Agencies, Cybersecurity 03.12.2025

Russian military cyberspy discreetly operating in Paris

GRU's campaign in Europe (2/2) − Moscow's armed branch for spying in Western Europe, the GRU military intelligence service, relies on a discreet agent in Paris who is an expert in interceptions and on North and South Korea.

Subscribers only Operations, Cybersecurity 03.12.2025

From Stresa to Vienna, a Russian military intelligence spy's France mission revealed

GRU's campaign in Europe (1/2). Russia's feared GRU military intelligence, headed by Igor Kostyukov and tasked with spying on Western Europe, was caught red-handed trying to recruit a French soldier stationed at a NATO base in Italy.

Subscribers only Agencies, Operations 02.12.2025

LVMH: intelligence-gathering on French investigative news outlet revealed

A covert request to dig into La Lettre and its luxury sector correspondent has circulated among Paris private eyes, reviving memories of a past LVMH intelligence scandal and exposing bitter infighting at the heart of the world's biggest luxury group.

Free access Corporate Intel 01.12.2025

Frédéric and Bernard Arnault, Alexandre Benalla, Alexandre Arnault and Jean-Jacques Guiony, Bernard Arnault.

The Agencies' Gazette
DIA and narcotrafficking, French prison intel, Beijing frets about VPN use, French intel academy prize

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

United StatesDIA loses drug trafficking expert

FranceInsufficient resources for prison intelligence

ChinaStricter checks for foreign websites and rumours about Russia, Taiwan and Trump

FranceFour theses in the running for French Intelligence Academy Grand Prize

Subscribers only 01.12.2025

French court slams DGSE ex-Dubai station chief's 'brutal' management

A non-commissioned officer assigned to the DGSE station in Dubai in 2017 said he endured a workplace nightmare that had serious consequences on his mental health. A French court has ordered the service to acknowledge that the station chief's behaviour was the cause.

Subscribers only Agencies 01.12.2025

French court upholds expulsion order for Chinese national accused of spying on diaspora

A French court has dismissed a Chinese national's challenge to an expulsion order signed in September by then-interior minister Bruno Retailleau. French domestic intelligence accuses the man, who has lived in France since 1986, of playing a key role in the surveillance of the Chinese diaspora.

Subscribers only Operations 27.11.2025

French former interior minister Bruno Retailleau signed the expulsion order for a Chinese national described as playing a key role in the surveillance of the Chinese diaspora.

DGSE tightens rules for recalling officers to Paris

The French foreign intelligence service has recently strengthened its security procedures for staff posted abroad. Over the past year, half a dozen officers have had their missions interrupted.

Subscribers only Agencies 27.11.2025

Nicolas Lerner, director of France's DGSE foreign intelligence agency, in Paris, 13 November 2025.

Spotlight
Beijing's invisible hand stifles Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China

The annual IPAC meeting in Brussels earlier this month was marked by the discreet appearance of Taiwan's vice-president. Despite this high-profile surprise, the gathering mainly confirmed China's ability to stifle pro-Taipei and pro-Hong Kong discussions in Africa, but also in Paris.

Subscribers only Information Wars, Back-Door Diplomacy 26.11.2025

Taiwan Vice-President Hsiao Bi-khim in Keelung, Taiwan, on 8 September 2025.

France's DGSE reopens its doors to private sector

The foreign intelligence service alternates between openness and isolation in order to develop new tools. Its new management is opening the door slightly to the private and research sectors.

Subscribers only Agencies, Cybersecurity 26.11.2025

French dronemaker Alta Ares in Moscow's sights

The rise of French military AI and drone specialist Alta Ares has been accompanied by information attacks against the company, some of which are linked to Russian intelligence services.

Subscribers only Operations, Defence 26.11.2025

The Alta Ares stand at the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget in 2025.

French NGO members arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia

Three members of the French pro-Russian NGO SOS Donbass have been arrested and placed in pre-trial detention. Two are suspected of having passed information to a foreign power and of colluding with a foreign power.

Subscribers only Operations 25.11.2025

Moscow extends 'espionage' probe of French researcher Laurent Vinatier

Moscow has decided to extend its investigation into jailed French researcher Laurent Vinatier for alleged espionage, postponing his trial that had been due to begin on 27 November.

Subscribers only Information Wars, Back-Door Diplomacy 25.11.2025

French researcher Laurent Vinatier attends a hearing at the Zamoskvoretsky District Court in Moscow, on 14 October 2024.

The Dupuy-de-Lôme, a French spy ship on a dual intelligence and diplomacy mission

In the face of Russia's rising hostility, the French spy ship Dupuy-de-Lôme has been increasing its missions near the Arctic Circle. While the vessel's primary role is to gather intelligence, these outings also serve to demonstrate France's willingness to back the countries that welcome it.

Subscribers only Operations 25.11.2025

The French Navy intelligence ship Dupuy-de-Lôme entering the port of Varna, Bulgaria, on the Black Sea, on 15 May 2014.

Paris seeking arms sales with Georgia as rest of EU turns away

In what appears to be a fresh diplomatic gamble by Paris, the French defence ministry sent a military-industrial delegation to Georgia earlier this month to explore potential arms sales. The move comes as Tbilisi finds itself increasingly isolated from the rest of the EU.

Subscribers only Defence 25.11.2025

The founder of the Georgian Dream party Bidzina Ivanishvili (L) and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Jacob Waerness, Norwegian spy turned thorn in the side for Lafarge managers

A former agent for Norway's domestic intelligence service, Jacob Waerness was head of security at Lafarge's Syrian factory. He is an embarrassing co-defendant at the cement manufacturer's former executives' trial for financing terrorism.

Subscribers only Operations 25.11.2025

Former Norwegian domestic intelligence officer Jacob Waerness arriving at the Paris court on the opening day of the trial of French cement group Lafarge, on 4 November 2025.

Indian Navy picks small French firm to equip its Russian helicopters

The French aerospace equipment manufacturer Aresia has secured a contract with the Indian Navy to equip eight of its Russian Kamov-28 helicopters with carry-on systems, Intelligence Online has learned.

Subscribers only Defence 24.11.2025

France's DGA procurement agency looks at economic intelligence and influence operations

France's DGA military procurement agency and the Military School Defence Academy in September launched five thematic committees. Bringing together the defence industry's economic intelligence community, the committees include academics and manufacturers as well as state and private players.

Subscribers only Corporate Intel, Information Wars, Defence 21.11.2025

France's DGA military procurement agency in Paris.

French ex-PM Laurent Fabius star guest at Chinese influence forum

After an exhibition of his paintings in Shanghai, the French former prime minister was the guest of honour at a major parallel diplomacy gathering on the shores of Lake Taihu, where foreign dignitaries rubbed shoulders with members of the United Front and Chinese security services.

Subscribers only Back-Door Diplomacy 21.11.2025

French ex-prime minister Laurent Fabius (L) shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the presence of French President Emmanuel Macron (C) ahead of an official state dinner at the presidential Elysée palace in Paris, France, on 6 May 2024.

Ex-head of French military counter-intelligence turns to private sector

The former head of France's Defence Intelligence and Security Directorate, Philippe Susnjara, is next year to join a long-established company in northern France.

Subscribers only Agencies, Corporate Intel 21.11.2025

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All articles - France

Ex-French PM François Fillon heads to Gulf for Forward Global

Riyadh seeking help from French intelligence to track down Hezbollah's financial networks

French ambassador to Indo-Pacific posted to Malaysia

Tracfin in crisis mode after damaging media reports

While Macron is in China, Beijing sends Xinjiang delegation to Paris

French defence security intelligence beefs up digital tools

Russian military cyberspy discreetly operating in Paris

From Stresa to Vienna, a Russian military intelligence spy's France mission revealed

LVMH: intelligence-gathering on French investigative news outlet revealed

The Agencies' Gazette
DIA and narcotrafficking, French prison intel, Beijing frets about VPN use, French intel academy prize

United StatesDIA loses drug trafficking expert

FranceInsufficient resources for prison intelligence

ChinaStricter checks for foreign websites and rumours about Russia, Taiwan and Trump

FranceFour theses in the running for French Intelligence Academy Grand Prize

French court slams DGSE ex-Dubai station chief's 'brutal' management

French court upholds expulsion order for Chinese national accused of spying on diaspora

DGSE tightens rules for recalling officers to Paris

Spotlight
Beijing's invisible hand stifles Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China

France's DGSE reopens its doors to private sector

French dronemaker Alta Ares in Moscow's sights

French NGO members arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia

Moscow extends 'espionage' probe of French researcher Laurent Vinatier

The Dupuy-de-Lôme, a French spy ship on a dual intelligence and diplomacy mission

Paris seeking arms sales with Georgia as rest of EU turns away

Jacob Waerness, Norwegian spy turned thorn in the side for Lafarge managers

Indian Navy picks small French firm to equip its Russian helicopters

France's DGA procurement agency looks at economic intelligence and influence operations

French ex-PM Laurent Fabius star guest at Chinese influence forum

Ex-head of French military counter-intelligence turns to private sector

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All articles - France

Ex-French PM François Fillon heads to Gulf for Forward Global

Riyadh seeking help from French intelligence to track down Hezbollah's financial networks

French ambassador to Indo-Pacific posted to Malaysia

Tracfin in crisis mode after damaging media reports

While Macron is in China, Beijing sends Xinjiang delegation to Paris

French defence security intelligence beefs up digital tools

Russian military cyberspy discreetly operating in Paris

From Stresa to Vienna, a Russian military intelligence spy's France mission revealed

LVMH: intelligence-gathering on French investigative news outlet revealed

The Agencies' Gazette DIA and narcotrafficking, French prison intel, Beijing frets about VPN use, French intel academy prize

United StatesDIA loses drug trafficking expert

FranceInsufficient resources for prison intelligence

ChinaStricter checks for foreign websites and rumours about Russia, Taiwan and Trump

FranceFour theses in the running for French Intelligence Academy Grand Prize

French court slams DGSE ex-Dubai station chief's 'brutal' management

French court upholds expulsion order for Chinese national accused of spying on diaspora

DGSE tightens rules for recalling officers to Paris

Spotlight Beijing's invisible hand stifles Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China

France's DGSE reopens its doors to private sector

French dronemaker Alta Ares in Moscow's sights

French NGO members arrested on suspicion of spying for Russia

Moscow extends 'espionage' probe of French researcher Laurent Vinatier

The Dupuy-de-Lôme, a French spy ship on a dual intelligence and diplomacy mission

Paris seeking arms sales with Georgia as rest of EU turns away

Jacob Waerness, Norwegian spy turned thorn in the side for Lafarge managers

Indian Navy picks small French firm to equip its Russian helicopters

France's DGA procurement agency looks at economic intelligence and influence operations

French ex-PM Laurent Fabius star guest at Chinese influence forum

Ex-head of French military counter-intelligence turns to private sector

Create a notification

About Intelligence Online

Subscription

Intelligence Online on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

The Agencies' Gazette
DIA and narcotrafficking, French prison intel, Beijing frets about VPN use, French intel academy prize

Spotlight
Beijing's invisible hand stifles Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China