Diplomacy

China
Soft power: Beijing tries a more personal touch abroad

Chinese diplomacy is pulling out all the stops to improve its image and forge links with selected foreign nationals through cultural initiatives, research collaborations and business opportunities. Its main targets are the United States and the Global South.

The Agencies' Gazette
DGSI number crunch, asset hunt in Kyiv, anti-disinformation in China, DGSE succession

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community.

FranceFrench intelligence reports 92 external lawfare cases since 2020

UkraineKyiv adds muscle to asset recovery agency

ChinaCommunist Party asks universities to train anti-disinformation analysts

FranceA woman in the running for top DGSE job

Ukraine, United States
Private diplomacy consultants campaign in US for Ukraine's economic security

Having long taken a stance against Russian influence in Syria, the network of British ex-diplomats and consultants coordinated by Independent Diplomat is supporting the efforts of a Ukrainian NGO run by a political communicator with close ties to media collectives.

The Agencies' Gazette
MbS in London, the UK FARA, Rome between Beijing and Delhi, DGSE ethics

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community.

Saudi Arabia/UKDate set for MbS London visit

United KingdomBritish FARA not up to scratch

ItalyRome split between ties with China or India

FranceDGSE bolsters ethics

Philippines, Vietnam
Manila and Hanoi bypass ASEAN on South China Sea dispute

To circumvent the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' unanimity rule, high-level officials from the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia have joined forces to tackle their South China Sea dispute with China.

Central Asia, United States
Corporate intelligence firms extend their compliance practices into Central Asia

With fresh sanctions due to be imposed on Russia, investigations companies are increasingly extending their compliance practices into Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, using Istanbul or London as rear bases.

Bulgaria, United States
Advisory and compliance firm Straife weaves network with Texan traders and Caspian oil firms

The consultancy is reinforcing ties with Houston-based traders Linden Energy and Focal Point Energy, both of whom are keen to move into the European energy market.

France, Iran, Israel
French intelligence missions hone in on Tehran

Two of the DGSE's new mission centres have turned their focus to Iran, following Tehran's public support of Hamas and greater involvement in the Middle East since the current crisis.