Your account has been succesfully created.

Spotlight | Belarus, France, Russia
DGSE, MI6 flock to Minsk in bid to keep Moscow at bay

LogoSubscribers only By Pierre Gastineau
3 min read Lire en français
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko during a meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence in Russia, on 29 August 2026.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko during a meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence in Russia, on 29 August 2026.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko during a meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence in Russia, on 29 August 2026. © Kirill Zykov/Zuma Press/MaxPPP

CIA director John Ratcliffe was not the only one to head east in recent weeks. Shortly before his visit to Moscow, France's DGSE sent a high-level delegation to Minsk to discuss the Ukrainian conflict. The UK's MI6 already made a similar trip to Belarus last year.

Read also

Sign up for real-time alerts and be notified of new editions!  

Once registered, you will be notified by a short message on your computer or mobile phone as soon as a new edition of our publication or an alert is published. Stay informed anytime, anywhere!