National Security Council

Egypt, Israel
Abbas Kamel keeps the calm in Gaza for Biden's visit

Familiar with mediation between Israel and Palestine, the Egyptian intelligence chief Abbas Kamel was back in action during the US president's visit to Gaza, a task made no easier with a remnant from the Six-Day War in the background.

Iran
Mohammad Kazemi already at work reorganising the Revolutionary Guards' intelligence service

Only just appointed to his new post as head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' intelligence service, Mohammad Kazemi intends to respond rapidly to Ali Khamenei's wish to reform this key component of the regime's security apparatus.

Spotlight | France
Strong push for French arms sales' reform made in new military spending law

France's defence ministry is hoping to introduce sweeping reforms of the laws governing French arms exports as part of a review of the new military spending law wanted by French President Emmanuel Macron. Despite being on the cards for years, these changes have never got past the legal hurdles their implementation involves.

Spotlight | France
DGSE draws up French military appropriations bill wish list

French intelligence services attached to the defence ministry are hoping to gain easier access to algorithms, data, cookies and DNA samples. Their needs will be discussed at a defence and national security council meeting led by President Macron this week.

Uzbekistan
With new monopoly, National Guard eats further into SGB's powers

A veritable incubator of trusted men for Uzbek President Mirziyoyev, the National Guard continues to gain power over the historic intelligence service inherited from the KGB, the SGB. Its latest prerogative is to become the sole provider of security services to the private sector.

The Intelligence Gazette
Hossein Taeb dismissed, DGSE gets Tripoli villa, DRM celebrates 30th anniversary, New narrative in Belarus

Appointments, reforms and key issues: every Monday, we report on events both big and small that matter in the global intelligence community. This week we home in on Iran, France and Belarus.

IranTehran's Pasdaran spymaster on the way out

FranceLuxury villa awaits DGSE chief in Tripoli

FranceEx-directors absent from DRM's 30th anniversary

BelarusNew narrative in security circles towards the West

Saudi Arabia, United States
Muslim World League back in Washington ahead of Biden's visit to Saudi Arabia

As tensions ease between both countries, the global Muslim body has been tasked with polishing the Kingdom's image in the United States. To help, it has roped in BGR Government Affairs, a lobbying business familiar with Saudi Arabia.

Afghanistan, Central Asia, Russia
Central Asian spymasters want to return Russia's focus to Afghanistan

Silovik chief Nikolai Patrushev is still taking part in discussion forums run by Central Asia's intelligence chiefs worried about the Taliban security risk. But with all their efforts focused on the war in Ukraine, Russia's armed forces have been forced to gradually disengage from that part of the world.

The Intelligence Gazette
CIA, Georgia's GIS, Hamas finance, DGSE operations

Appointments, reforms and key issues: every Monday, we report on events both big and small that matter in the global intelligence community. This week we home in on the US, Georgia, Palestine, Turkey and France.

United StatesCIA's spies experience housing crisis in Langley

GeorgiaGovernment increases oversight of GIS' international dealings

Palestine/TurkeyHamas still receiving funds from Turkey

FranceDGSE operations department poised to get new chief

Belarus, Ukraine
Dissident militias involved in Ukraine conflict worry Minsk security chiefs

A group of Belarusian volunteers, Kalinovsky, is defending Ukrainian territory against Russian forces. Together with the Bypol organisation, it is also preparing for a new regime once Alexander Lukashenko is gone, in liaison with the Warsaw diaspora.

Israel, Turkey
Tel Aviv's spymasters slow down reconciliation with Ankara

Israel and Turkey had been warming to one another, but recent recommendations from Israel's national security council, warning Israelis to avoid travel to Turkey because of Iranian activisim, have put up a roadblock.

Russia
Jet Infosystems, the Kremlin's all-terrain IT supplier

The Moscow-based firm, which even operates in foreign military theatres, nurtures its security networks through its chief lobbyist, Vadim Shustov.

Iran
Pasdaran play kingmakers in Ali Khamenei's succession

With pressure building to name a successor to Iran's ailing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the Pasdaran are manoeuvring to influence the appointment. President Ebrahim Raissi is their current favourite.