Defence

Belarus, Russia
Russia accelerates use of Belarus as rear training base

The recent troop movements on Ukraine's northern border illustrate Russia's use of Belarus as a training ground for its new recruits, and its aims to influence how the Belarusian command trains its own personnel.

China
Xi Jinping invites foreign experts into closed-door meetings on China's challenges

The Chinese Communist Party is increasingly relying on small meetings with foreign participants to tackle the country's problems. It has launched a new LinkedIn recruitment campaign with the aim of building a database of foreign experts who can be called upon at short notice when needed.

Vietnam
Ministry of Public Security's latest drive for power lies behind political crisis

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc's forced resignation on 17 January following a secret meeting of the Communist Party of Vietnam's politburo comes amid a Covid-19 test kit scandal. The Ministry of Public Security, which prompted his departure, has been pushing for influence at every level of government.

The Agencies' Gazette
UK tight with US space force, Uzbek state probe, Abbas succession reboot, Russian separatists summit, China's reservists

Appointments, reforms and key issues: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community. This week, we hone in on London and Tashkent via Ramallah, Brussels and Beijing.

United Kingdom/United States Britain buddies up with US Space Force

Uzbekistan Senior officials investigated by State Security Service

Palestinian territories Abbas's presumed successor falls from grace

Brussels Kremlin opponents and separatist leaders gather at European Parliament

China Xi changes reservist conscription system

Russia, United Kingdom
From Russian mines to London networks, heir Ildar Uzbekov embroiled in legal battles

A London legal battle involving Londongrad mining industry players has put the spotlight on the British and Russian passport-holding Ildar Uzbekov, despite his best efforts to distance himself from the Kremlin.

Belarus, Ukraine
War in Ukraine: Kalinovsky Regiment aims to expand

The militia group opposed to Alexander Lukashenko, and which is backed by the Ukrainian military intelligence service, is attracting more and more members. Led by its two clandestine commanders, however, it is still locked in dispute with the other exiled Belarusian opposition factions.

The Tech Telegraph
EU's hybrid warfare centre, Campus Cyber, Social Links in Latin America, BAE Systems in Qatar

From SIGINT to GEOINT and OSINT and a dose of cyber, each week we report on events both big and small that matter in the community of technical intelligence providers.

BrusselsEU picks Leonardo and Indra to develop European cyber situational awareness centre.

ParisBig data analytics specialist Temno further opens France's Campus Cyber to intelligence.

New York/MexicoOSINT specialist Social Links wants a share of Latin American market.

DohaBAE Systems nudges way into US business networks in Qatar.

Europe
Intertech adds yet another EU security contract to its belt

In planning the deployment of new external missions and equipment of existing delegations, the EU has turned to one of its trusted suppliers, French-Lebanese surveillance technology provider Intertech.

Europe
EU faces intelligence capacity challenges

While European countries' determination to improve intelligence-sharing is providing more data for EU intelligence, the EU continues to lack its own independent means, which would free it from the whims of national governments.

The Corporate Intelligence Gazette
StoneTurn, Highgate, Passage Consulting, EPEE

Appointments, financial results, new contracts: every week, we report on events big and small that matter in the global corporate intelligence community. This week, we head to Washington, London, Paris and Belgrade.

New York/London Mackintosh marks StoneTurn's arrival on British insider threat market

London Ileana Konialidis, from Lukashenko to Highgate

Paris/Belgrade Award for French consultant Jacques Hogard amid ethnic tensions

Washington Passage Consulting steps in as ISR's Washington lobbyist

Israel
Israeli OSINT specialist Labyrinth closes despite support of former intelligence chiefs

Founded in 2018 by Israeli former military intelligence officers, the open source intelligence firm Labyrinth had heavyweight advisers on board in Tamir Pardo, Amos Yadlin and Roni Alsheich, but that didn't prevent its recent demise.

Germany, Iraq
British, UAE intel firms help Iraq money-laundering fight with German funding

German development agency GIZ is funding a programme to help Iraq in its fight against money-laundering and with its asset recovery probes. Two firms have been chosen for this financial investigation job: Britain's Adam Smith International and Emirati company IntelliSys.

Belarus, Russia
Russia ramps up strategic disinformation campaign north of Ukraine

To divert Kyiv's attentions away from the main theatres of war in Ukraine's east and south, Russian intelligence services and private military companies are conducting a growing number of manoeuvres in Belarus. Information about these operations is being carefully 'leaked'.

Syria, United States
USSOCOM keeps troops on ground despite Syria-Turkey talks

After letting its focus on Syria slip, the United States is now having to sit by and watch as the Assad regime continues to engage with Turkey. If the two neighbours do restore ties, this could pull the US back into the regional troubles and call into question the presence of US troops in northeast Syria.

The Agencies' Gazette
Moldovan security council, Russia's data border crack down, Xi Jinping and Moscow, Ankara struggling with PKK

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community. This week, we bring news from Ankara, Moscow, Chisinau and Beijing.

MoldovaPresidential cabinet musical chairs.

RussiaRoskomnadzor strengthens border controls.

China/RussiaBeijing gets involved in peace efforts in Europe.

Turkey/IraqAnkara searches for equipment to fight PKK in northern Iraq.