DGSE, French DNI, Personal Chief of Staff: Macron set to fill three top national security jobs

DGSE relocation pushed back by two years 

The future DGSE headquarters in Vincennes, scheduled for 2028, will now not be ready until 2030. Work has not even begun yet.

French defence ministry rolls out cyber emergency response centre for defence firms 

Parliamentary discussion of France's draft 2024-2030 military programming bill has put the spotlight on an initiative by the DRSD to provide a computer emergency response team for the defence sector, which is currently being deployed in key regions.

France mulls US-style foreign agents register after similar UK effort 

France's Secretary General of Defence and National Security wants to introduce stricter controls of "amateur" lobbyists working informally for foreign interests.

French external intelligence agency wants its South East Asia team in shipshape 

Marc P.'s arrival in Singapore after six years serving as head of the DGSE's intelligence department should allow the service to ramp up its action in a highly strategic zone, one that it had largely ignored for years, as China places its pawns in South East Asia.

France's online influence warfare doctrine makes slow progress in face of administrative complexities 

Digital information warfare has become a hot topic at the Elysee, but implementing the French government's strategy on the matter is proving complex as the different state departments each jostle for a role.

• FRANCE - Intelligence Academy advertises for new director

• LEBANON - Berri joins push to extend Ibrahim's mandate

• RUSSIA - Intelligence at forefront of fight against drones

• UNITED STATES - CIA publication review process questioned

• BULGARIA - Internal security under scrutiny

French intelligence increasingly mobilised against cults 

Cult-like organisations have grown more and more active since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. As a result, French anti-cult agency MIVILUDES, now under the authority of the interior ministry, is increasingly collaborating with the intelligence community.

DRSD positions itself as French defence big data technology hub 

France's defence security and intelligence service has developed a number of data tools that it is touting to other branches of the intelligence community.

French intelligence regroups to better cover war in Ukraine 

After being caught out by the start of the conflict, France's intelligence services have since restructured and are taking more decisive action on Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But that has come with some serious soul-searching.

• NEW YORK - Feldman to take over from Nardello in London.

• LONDON - Death knell sounds for Optima Defence & Security Group.

• AIX-EN-PROVENCE/ROME - Ilios International looks towards Italy.

• US - Sparacino without Veretus.

• PARIS - DRSD boss leaves for Sanofi.

• UNITED KINGDOM - Charles III, King of Spies

• IRAQ - Intelligence services suit up ahead of Arba'een pilgrimage

• UNITED STATES/CHINA - Pressure mounts on Confucius institutes

• UNITED KINGDOM - GCHQ creates a behavioural science research centre to screen hires

• GERMANY - Doubts over counter-terrorism, now counter-espionage

• FRANCE - New candidate for the CNRLT

France's security interceptions unit feels pinch of staff shortages 

The inter-ministerial GIC (Groupement Interministériel de Contrôle), which operates France's security interceptions, is having trouble filling its ranks as its workload piles up.

• ISRAEL/BAHRAIN - First class of Manama spies complete course with Israeli intelligence.

• FRANCE - Muriel Domenach tipped to become new anti-terrorism intelligence boss.

• ROMANIA - Bucharest urgently looking for recruits for new cybersecurity directorate.

• UNITED STATES - CIA's spies experience housing crisis in Langley

• GEORGIA - Government increases oversight of GIS' international dealings
  

• PALESTINE/TURKEY - Hamas still receiving funds from Turkey
  

• FRANCE - DGSE operations department poised to get new chief

Vidaud's surprise exit from military intelligence turns the armed forces upside down 

The abrupt departure on 30 March of the Director of Military Intelligence (DRM) Eric Vidaud triggered a power struggle within the armed forces for the future positions.

French defence minister Lecornu plans trip to N'Djamena 

French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu is preparing to make an official visit to Chad as part of plans announced by President Emmanuel Macron to completely reorganise France's military presence in Africa.