MI6

Germany
Berlin tours Europe for tips to bolster intelligence capabilities

German security chiefs are consulting widely across Europe on a number of intelligence-related initiatives, including restructuring the BND, creating a National Security Council, and changing intelligence coordination.

German Federal Intelligence Service (BND) headquarters in Berlin.

Belgium, Russia
Slashed tires and victim of a set-up… confessions of an alleged Russian spy imprisoned in Belgium

Intelligence Online has been leaked details of a conversation with Viktor Labin, who is suspected by the Belgian authorities of being a Russian intelligence officer. His trial is due to begin in April.

Subscribers only Operations 02.04.2026

Brussels' Palace of Justice in Belgium, where Viktor Gennadievich Labin’s trial is due to begin in April 2026.

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

For over a decade, French and British intelligence chiefs have made a habit of attending the Six Nations rugby tournament match between France and England, sitting together in the stands. The next face-off on Saturday at the Stade de France near Paris is no exception.

Subscribers only Agencies, Back-Door Diplomacy 13.03.2026

French rugby player Louis Bielle-Biarrey scores a try during the Guinness Men's Six Nations Championship match at the Stade de France near Paris, on 5 February 2026.

France, United States
The intriguing Gabriel Scheinmann, a grandson of French spies now shaping US diplomacy in Paris

Charles Kushner's chief of staff, Gabriel Scheinmann, is the driving force and architect of some of the US embassy in Paris's most strident actions over the past year. He is also the descendant of a family deeply rooted in the world of French espionage.

Subscribers only Back-Door Diplomacy 11.03.2026

Gabriel Scheinmann speaking at a conference at The Charles Hotel in Cambridge, Massachusetts, US, on 8 February 2025.

France, Iran
Reza Pahlavi's long road to recognition in France

The son of Iran's deposed Shah has failed to win over the French establishment, especially French diplomacy which is wary of this divisive figure of the Iranian opposition. Yet this lack of support in France has not prevented Reza Pahlavi from staging a series of carefully orchestrated PR stunts, such as an interview on a prime French TV news show this evening.

Subscribers only Back-Door Diplomacy 16.02.2026

Reza Pahlavi, son of the deposed Iranian Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, on 14 February 2026 in Munich.

The Agencies' Gazette
Epstein files, Martello, EEAS and FTI Consulting

Appointments, financial results, new contracts: every Wednesday, we report on events both big and small that matter in the global corporate intelligence community.

New YorkNardello, Riley Kiraly and Interfor among firms appearing in Epstein files

DubaiDisputes support firm Martello makes first hire in Middle East

RiyadhEU sticks with Argus Security Projects and Gulf Falcons Security & Protection

WashingtonFTI bounces back in financial investigation

Subscribers only 11.02.2026

Switzerland
As Greenland crisis escalates, US, UK and Danish spy chiefs gather in Davos

At the World Economic Forum in Davos which opens today until 23 January, all eyes will be on Donald Trump, who has planned to attend amid rising tensions over the future of the semi-autonomous territory of Denmark.

Subscribers only Back-Door Diplomacy 19.01.2026

The head of Britain's MI6 secret intelligence service Blaise Metreweli is expected in Davos this week.

Deep Dive | France
How the DGSE secret war chest nearly became a CIA-styled investment fund

The DGSE's cursed treasure (3/4) – A fund set up in the wake of the two world wars, to finance a government in exile if France were again occupied, eventually became a curse. This third episode looks back at how the service almost turned its war chest into an investment fund.

Subscribers only Agencies, Defence 07.01.2026

Spotlight | United Kingdom
Tory donor cites Trump-BBC lawsuit in push to unmask public broadcaster's sources

Encouraged by the US president's lawsuit against the British Broadcasting Corporation, Mohamed Amersi, a British businessperson close to the Conservative Party, has been airing his own grievances about the broadcaster and seeking to identify the sources of a programme investigating his business dealings.

Subscribers only Corporate Intel 24.12.2025

Mohamed Amersi, Chairman of the Amersi Foundation.

France, Russia
From Stresa to Vienna, a Russian military intelligence spy's France mission revealed

GRU's campaign in Europe (1/2). Russia's feared GRU military intelligence, headed by Igor Kostyukov and tasked with spying on Western Europe, was caught red-handed trying to recruit a French soldier stationed at a NATO base in Italy.

Subscribers only Agencies, Operations 02.12.2025

France
The Dupuy-de-Lôme, a French spy ship on a dual intelligence and diplomacy mission

In the face of Russia's rising hostility, the French spy ship Dupuy-de-Lôme has been increasing its missions near the Arctic Circle. While the vessel's primary role is to gather intelligence, these outings also serve to demonstrate France's willingness to back the countries that welcome it.

Subscribers only Operations 25.11.2025

The French Navy intelligence ship Dupuy-de-Lôme entering the port of Varna, Bulgaria, on the Black Sea, on 15 May 2014.

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

In a sign of how the UK has come to prize its work with France, the British government has brought its intelligence lead in Paris back to London to become head of counter-terrorism.

Subscribers only Agencies 20.11.2025

A sign outside the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in London.

United Kingdom, United States
MI6 cleared in probe examining UK's role in post-9/11 CIA interrogations

Following a two-year investigation, a panel of judges at the Investigatory Powers Tribunal has found no wrongdoing by the UK government, though the latter admitted to being "too slow" in the 2000s to appreciate the nature of US enhanced interrogation techniques.

Subscribers only Agencies 11.11.2025

The Guantanamo detention centre in Cuba, where CIA interrogations took place after the 11 September 2001 terror attacks on the US.

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

The former spy chief was recently touted, for the second time, as a possible replacement to Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to the US. He has instead followed a long line of former "Cs" into the world of risk consulting.

Subscribers only Corporate Intel 11.11.2025

The former head of the UK's Secret Intelligence Service (SIS or MI6) Richard Moore.

Spymaster | France
DGSE reformer Bernard Bajolet, from the Paris attacks to trial for intimidation

This month, former DGSE head Bernard Bajolet faces trial over the alleged intimidation of a controversial financier and marks 10 years since leading the service's response to the Paris attacks of 13 November 2015. Intelligence Online looks back at his time at "La Boîte".

Subscribers only Agencies 07.11.2025

Bernard Bajolet was director of France's DGSE foreign intelligence service from 2013 to 2017.

The Corporate Intelligence Gazette
OSINT Industries, Hakluyt, CT Group

Appointments, financial results, new contracts: every Wednesday, we report on events both big and small that matter in the global corporate intelligence community.

LondonOSINT Industries poaches ex-UK government investigator from rival Blackdot

WashingtonHakluyt hires former CIA officer

LondonDefence officials take up roles at Lynton Crosby's CT Group

Subscribers only 05.11.2025

Spotlight | Lebanon
Private US military consultants flock to bolster Lebanese military

The Pentagon has pledged an additional $230m in military aid to Beirut, stepping up US support for the Lebanese military and intelligence services in their ambitions to disarm Hezbollah. Cooperation is centred on a team of consultants funded by the US Department of Defense, as well as the British and Canadian governments.

Subscribers only Corporate Intel 13.10.2025

The Pentagon has pledged an additional $230m in aid to the Lebanese army.

The Agencies' Gazette
ICE seeks OSINT, French intel journal, Chinese PM in Pyongyang, UK and Baltic get-together, French spy novel prize

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

United StatesICE looking to boost open source analysis capabilities

FranceVeteran counter-espionage agents contribute to intelligence research journal

China/North KoreaTrump's shadow looms over Li Qiang's Pyongyang trip

UKBaltic states are guests of honour at Westminster mission on national security strategy

FranceAnti-money laundering specialist lands French spy novel prize

Subscribers only 13.10.2025

Malaysia, Spain
Heirs of Sulu v Malaysia: influence and intel campaigns intensify ahead of critical court verdicts

Two cornerstone judgments are due in the $15bn legal fight between Malaysia and the heirs of the Sultanate of Sulu, who claim historical ownership of the country's northeastern oil state of Sabah. As the dispute comes to a head, a host of advisory firms have been put to work.

Subscribers only Corporate Intel 10.10.2025

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

The British foreign intelligence service risks experiencing a slump between the departure of cadres close to Richard Moore and the arrival of new Russia and China specialists. This comes at a time when MI6 needs to build up its expertise, particularly in light of a US ally that is less reliable than before.

Subscribers only 23.09.2025

Building of the Secret Intelligence Service, also known as MI6, in London, on 22 March 2024.

Donald Trump

Houthis

Mohammed bin Salman al-Saud

Vantor

Xi Jinping

Germany Berlin tours Europe for tips to bolster intelligence capabilities

Belgium, Russia Slashed tires and victim of a set-up… confessions of an alleged Russian spy imprisoned in Belgium

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

France, United States The intriguing Gabriel Scheinmann, a grandson of French spies now shaping US diplomacy in Paris

France, Iran Reza Pahlavi's long road to recognition in France

The Agencies' Gazette Epstein files, Martello, EEAS and FTI Consulting

New YorkNardello, Riley Kiraly and Interfor among firms appearing in Epstein files

DubaiDisputes support firm Martello makes first hire in Middle East

RiyadhEU sticks with Argus Security Projects and Gulf Falcons Security & Protection

WashingtonFTI bounces back in financial investigation

Switzerland As Greenland crisis escalates, US, UK and Danish spy chiefs gather in Davos

Deep Dive | France How the DGSE secret war chest nearly became a CIA-styled investment fund

Spotlight | United Kingdom Tory donor cites Trump-BBC lawsuit in push to unmask public broadcaster's sources

France, Russia From Stresa to Vienna, a Russian military intelligence spy's France mission revealed

France The Dupuy-de-Lôme, a French spy ship on a dual intelligence and diplomacy mission

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

United Kingdom, United States MI6 cleared in probe examining UK's role in post-9/11 CIA interrogations

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

Spymaster | France DGSE reformer Bernard Bajolet, from the Paris attacks to trial for intimidation

The Corporate Intelligence Gazette OSINT Industries, Hakluyt, CT Group