France, Vietnam
French push to sell frigates behind strengthening of Vietnam ties

Vietnam
French firms see odds lengthen as Hanoi considers frigate options

Vietnamese authorities are closely exploring French options for acquiring new frigates. But despite having requested information from French industrial groups, Hanoi looks increasingly unlikely to buy from them.

France, Thailand
Naval Group pursues offensive for Thai frigates contract

The French naval defence giant is positioning itself on Thailand's future frigates project. Naval Group is keen to oust its competing compatriots early on, in hopes of being the sole French shipyard in the race.

France, Indonesia, Singapore
Macron's defence-focused Indo-Pacific trip takes shape

The French president is likely to visit Southeast Asia in the coming months. While his teams and those of the defence ministry's international relations directorate remain unclear on the details of the trip, it is an ideal opportunity for France to present its strategy for the region.

The Agencies' Gazette
Russia using Hawala payments, Vietnam's new Paris defence attaché, ISC renewal, Silk Roads into Europe, Kremlin/Vatican's parallel diplomacy

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

Russia/UKRussian embassy uses Hawala payments to dodge sanctions

Vietnam/France Hanoi appoints new defence attaché to Paris embassy

United KingdomNew Westminster intelligence committee crew take over

ChinaSecond New Silk Road phase turns towards Europe

Vatican/RussiaKremlin sends back-channel message it is open to Christmas ceasefire

France
DGSE combat divers train with allies in Baltic Sea

Combat divers of the Service Action, the division of France's DGSE foreign intelligence agency responsible for planning and carrying out covert operations, conducted a joint underwater training session with German and Polish counterparts in the Baltic.

France, Vietnam
Leadership change leaves France hanging over bilateral presidential visits

Paris is concerned about the political transition taking place in Vietnam, with top-level bilateral meetings planned for the end of 2024 and start of 2025.

France, Vietnam
Convicted Vietnamese defence agent Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan's French connections

Wanted on corruption charges, the former CEO of AIC Group, Nguyen Thi Thanh Nhan, who served as a go-between for Western defence companies in Vietnam, is now on the run in China. Before that, she built an extensive network of contacts in France's political and defence circles.

France, Israel, Vietnam
Vietnam baulks at Airbus's observation satellite proposal

While the French embassy in Vietnam is still hoping that Airbus might land an earth observation satellite order, the Vietnamese government appears unready to commit, marking what could be the end of this central project in the two countries' bilateral defence cooperation and a blow to French chances of further defence contracts in Vietnam.