Spymaster | Qatar
Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Misnad plays Emir's private diplomat

Qatar, United States
Sheikh Sultan Al Thani, the Qatari investor-diplomat pouring funds into Trump's America

A recent disclosure by the new head of the US Environmental Protection Agency, Lee Zeldin, shows he undertook lobbying work in 2023 for the investment group of Sultan Jassim Al Thani. The latter claims to be acting independently, but records show the Qatari royal is a registered diplomat in London.

Saudi Arabia, UAE
Abu Dhabi challenges Riyadh for UNESCO director-general role

Audrey Azoulay will step down as DG of UNESCO in 2025 and Saudi Arabia's designs on the prestigious international role now face a challenge from the UAE as the neighbouring countries both seek to raise their profiles and influence.

Israel, Malaysia
How the Mossad outsources covert operations to its Malaysian agents

The Mossad's attempt to run covert operations in Malaysia from Israel has recently been publicly exposed as a failure. It also unwittingly disclosed how it recruits, trains and remotely controls cells of local agents.

The Agencies' Gazette
CIA and Taliban, UK geospatial intel, Russian control centre in Ukraine, Serbian BIA

Appointments, reforms and key issues: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets of news, big and small, from the global intelligence community. This week we hone in on Doha, Baghdad, London and Moscow.

United States/AfghanistanIslamabad and Doha aid CIA-Taliban meeting.

United KingdomIntelligence issues in British space strategy.

RussiaIntelligence services at heart of new Ukraine coordination council.

SerbiaVucic blends geopolitics with internal security.

Afghanistan, France
French foreign ministry puts Afghanistan on hold

The French foreign ministry's team responsible for Afghanistan has been dismantled. For the moment no one has been appointed to replace outgoing ambassador David Martinon.

Saudi Arabia
Riyadh sets its sights on UNESCO's top job

Determined to become a world tourist destination by promoting its history, Saudi Arabia is rolling out a discreet influence strategy. After having laid its first groundwork, Riyadh is now working to secure the leadership of UNESCO.

Oman, Qatar
Muscat and Doha jostle for lead mediatory role in Iranian nuclear talks

Both capitals want to be the main mediator in the negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme and are now competing directly for the role. Both have called in their respective spy chiefs to work behind the scenes to cultivate their special relationships with the West and Iran.

Qatar
US and France keep watch on Qatar's pro-Ukraine shift

Despite having heavily invested in Russia when blocked from its Gulf neighbours from 2017 to 2021, Qatar has taken the Ukraine crisis as an opportunity to confirm its support for the Washington-Brussels axis. For Moscow, this does not mean Doha has passed a point of no return.

Bahrain, Qatar
Qatar and Bahrain still squabbling despite end to blockade

Territorial disputes, dynastic tensions and property seizures are clear signs that Doha and Manama's relations are still far from harmonious despite the lifting of the regional blockade on Qatar. The latter, which has not reconciled with Israel, is also vexed that Bahrain's alliance with the Jewish state appears to be growing ever stronger.

Israel, Palestine, Qatar
Ramallah's banking moguls turn backs on Qatari funds for fear of sanctions

After being called on Israel to rethink its mechanism for transfer donor money to the Gaza Strip, Qatar first thought of using Palestinian banks, but the directors of these refused to avoid potential reprisals from Israel.

Spotlight | UAE
Tahnoon bin Zayed, Abu Dhabi spymaster, fashions security and investment empire

Tahnoon bin Zayed, the UAE's national security advisor, is a wealthy businessman who values his privacy.

Israel
Shin Bet and IDF compete for cyber talent

Present at the Cybertech fair in Tel Aviv at the beginning of February, the Israeli internal intelligence service Shin Bet [...]

How Fahad Yasin patiently forged his reputation as Farmajo's all-powerful spymaster

President Farmajo's National Security Adviser has made a mark on both his country and the Somali region of Ethiopia and has been able to deflect attacks from the president's enemies as well as certain Gulf states thanks to his robust network of influence.