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Spymaster | United Kingdom
Britain's top spy Richard Moore, the cool-headed Europhile at the head of MI6

By Michael Sweeney

Published on 30.05.2025 at 04:00 GMT Reading time 4 min

Despite dealing with the fall-out from Brexit and the AUKUS controversy, Richard Moore has become a well-liked figure in Europe, a testament to both his diplomatic acumen and his skill as a spy master. But his tenure as "C", which is due to end this summer, has also been marked by unforced errors.

When Richard Moore, the outgoing head of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service (SIS or MI6), met French intelligence chiefs in Paris in the wake of the AUKUS controversy in 2021, they asked him to explain what had motivated the British. They felt "betrayed", one told Intelligence Online. Why had he not warned them about the cancellation of France's

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Spymaster | United Kingdom
Britain's top spy Richard Moore, the cool-headed Europhile at the head of MI6

Despite dealing with the fall-out from Brexit and the AUKUS controversy, Richard Moore has become a well-liked figure in Europe, a testament to both his diplomatic acumen and his skill as a spy master. But his tenure as "C", which is due to end this summer, has also been marked by unforced errors.

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Spymaster | United Kingdom Britain's top spy Richard Moore, the cool-headed Europhile at the head of MI6

Despite dealing with the fall-out from Brexit and the AUKUS controversy, Richard Moore has become a well-liked figure in Europe, a testament to both his diplomatic acumen and his skill as a spy master. But his tenure as "C", which is due to end this summer, has also been marked by unforced errors.

This article may be accessed by subscribers

Do you want a free trial before subscribing?

Create your free account

create a free account

Related topics to this article

Read also

Spotlight | France, United Kingdom 'Le Crunch' rubgy face-off fosters ritual DGSE-MI6 meet

France, United Kingdom From intelligence to police, Paris-London cooperation improving

United Kingdom MI6 promotes Paris chief to top counter-terrorism role

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United Kingdom On Russia and China, a high-risk human resources transition for MI6

United Kingdom MI6 fighting three separate claims in secretive UK legal proceedings

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About Intelligence Online

Subscription

Intelligence Online on social media

Indigo Publications' websites

Spymaster | United Kingdom
Britain's top spy Richard Moore, the cool-headed Europhile at the head of MI6

Spotlight | France, United Kingdom
'Le Crunch' rubgy face-off fosters ritual DGSE-MI6 meet

France, United Kingdom
From intelligence to police, Paris-London cooperation improving

United Kingdom
MI6 promotes Paris chief to top counter-terrorism role

United Kingdom
Ex-MI6 chief Richard Moore launches private sector consultancy

United Kingdom
On Russia and China, a high-risk human resources transition for MI6

United Kingdom
MI6 fighting three separate claims in secretive UK legal proceedings

Spy Way of Life | United Kingdom
Arundel House: IISS's London headquarters where spies gather 'unofficially and away from the public eye'

Spotlight | United Kingdom
Blaise Metreweli: Middle East expert with frontline experience of Iran threat

United Kingdom
UK defence ministry sues once-feted driverless car entrepreneur

The Agencies' Gazette
French security clearance, CIA and ODNI watchdogs, French cognac tariffs, MI6

Spotlight, Deep Dive | United States
Tulsi Gabbard, the US intelligence maverick

Deep Dive | France
Russia, Emmanuel Macron's sin of pride

United Kingdom
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The Agencies' Gazette
Defence intelligence, Eurocorps headed by Pole, US adviser in Tbilisi, and Irsem under investigation

Spymaster | United Kingdom
Sir Jeremy Fleming stress tests GCHQ's return to strategic threat intelligence