Jean-Yves Le Drian

France, Ukraine
Ukrainian helicopter crash revives anger over Airbus contract

The helicopter that crashed in Ukraine last month, killing the country's interior minister, was one of a fleet from France that security officials had complained were in poor condition. The role of the previous minister, Arsen Avakov, in the deal is under scrutiny.

France, Pakistan
French foreign trade advisers take tentative steps in Islamabad

In a bid to revive a bilateral relationship that has all but come to a standstill, French business representatives in Pakistan are trying to build a new business channel between both countries. Paris, so far, has not lent the initiative much support.

The Intelligence Gazette
CIA's HR woes, Hamas and Taliban in Istanbul, Tbilisi's oligarchs, France's DPR, China worries Russia, repatriated Afghans

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 hone in on Istanbul, Washington, Paris, Moscow, Kabul and Tbilisi.

United States CIA experimenting to solve HR crisis

Turkey/Palestine/Afghanistan Istanbul hosts Hamas-Taliban rapprochement

Georgia Tbilisi looks into its oligarchs

France DPR still not entitled to know about operations in progress

Russia Moscow's foreign affairs ministry reassesses view of China

Afghanistan/Europe Europe's greater numbers of repatriated Afghans

China, Ukraine
War in Ukraine: China concentrates its diplomatic attention on Europe

Although China, Russia and America are toughening up their public positions, the authorities in Beijing are working behind the scenes to push the different parties towards their own proposals for resolving the conflict in Ukraine.

France
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.

France, Qatar, UAE
Armed with their major anti-drone contract, CS Group and Thales look to break into the Gulf

Now among the French army's suppliers of anti-drone equipment, the CS Group-Thales consortium wants to take advantage of this success. The Franco-Qatari cooperation will intensify right up to this year's football World Cup, while CS is trying to establish itself in Abu Dhabi with its rival MBDA.

China, France, Iraq
TotalEnergies faces Chinese competition in Iraqi solar energy market

France's TotalEnergies, which is looking to strengthen its presence in Iraq as part of its drive to diversify its energy interests, is hoping to get a slice of the country's solar energy market. The market is set to develop but is also attracting other countries, including China.

France
Director of military intelligence-to-be Bertrand Toujouse sidelined by Eric Vidaud

Bertrand Toujouse, who had been set to become director of France's military intelligence service, has run into unexpected opposition, including that of the French presidency. As a result, he has lost the job to Eric Vidaud, who will take up his duties in September.

Afghanistan, France
French foreign ministry revises its game plan after Afghanistan withdrawal

The Talibans have won media attention by continuing to advance in areas they already held but the fall of Kabul is far from imminent. As a result, France finds itself in an uncomfortable position.

France
Toujouse to head military intelligence

Bertrand Toujouse, the current deputy director, will replace Jean-François Ferlet [...]

Egypt, France
Sisi makes loud show of cooperation with DGSE

DGSE chief Bernard Emié's supposedly secret visit to Cairo last week to boost Franco-Egyptian intelligence cooperation ended up in the Egyptian press.

France, Russia
Engie and Quai d'Orsay clash over Nord Stream 2

The French gas company Engie saw red when Clément Beaune, [...]

France
Interior ministry's anti-fake news drive attracts private firms

Interior ministry wants to step up its engagement in the fight against disinformation, which could be a boon for several private firms.