SGDSN

France
Race is on to find new DRM military intelligence chief

General Jacques Langlade de Montgros, who has headed France's DRM military intelligence since 2022, is shortly set to be appointed Chief of the Army Staff. The favourite candidate to succeed him now appears to be falling behind in favour of the French army's second in command.

Europe, France, Russia
French police officer deemed too close to Russia to join Frontex

An officer with the French police force had been slated to join the European Border and Coast Guard agency Frontex for five years, but a decision by the French authorities - who are concerned about his family ties to Russia - has scuppered those plans.

China
Solomon Islands' secret security deal with Beijing survives change of government

The new prime minister of the Solomon Islands, Matthew Wale, had long promised transparency regarding the secret security deal signed with Beijing in 2022. But in a sharp turnaround, the leader recently said he will not release the agreement.

France
Government pushes lawmakers to approve messaging app backdoors

The French government hopes to persuade senators to withdraw a proposed ban of backdoors on messaging apps in proposed legislation on infrastructure resilience and cybersecurity.

France
SGDSN given big budget boost to counter hybrid attacks

France's SGDSN defence and national security secretariat has split the extra funding it has received since September 2025 to combat hybrid threats between its four operators ANSSI, Osiic, GIC and Viginum.

Spotlight | Europe, France
France's Viginum takes fight against Russian propaganda to Europe's eastern flank

In a bid to fight Russian propaganda, France's foreign disinformation watchdog is deploying its teams across Europe, extending as far as Armenia in the Caucasus. In doing so, the agency is following in the footsteps of its ‘big brother', France's DGSE foreign intelligence service.

France
French MPs seek to tighten controls on foreign investment

French MPs have taken a number of initiatives in recent months that reflect the increasing importance of regulating foreign investments. The underlying desire is to bolster the finance ministry's Strategic Information and Economic Security Service tasked with protecting national economic interests.

The Agencies' Gazette
SGDSN anniversary watch, ODNI military adviser, Kyiv's Africa plan

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

FranceBespoke watches for SGDSN's 120th anniversary

USTulsi Gabbard's new military adviser is a Marine

UkraineA plan for Kyiv's return to Africa

France
Woman analyst in pole position to lead DGSE operations against Russia

In accordance with its proactive gender equality policies, France's foreign intelligence agency is expected to appoint a woman specialist of the Russian-speaking world to direct its most important mission centre, which has seen its influence rapidly grow.

France
French intelligence veterans association seeks new president

Alain Juillet has presided since 2022 over the French association of former members of the special services of national defence, which boasts some thousand members. He is now looking for his successor and has contacted leading figures from the intelligence community.

Spotlight | France, Japan, South Korea
Macron to visit Tokyo and Seoul

Emmanuel Macron is to travel during the cherry blossom season to the two North-East Asian countries, long neglected by the French president. His tour will provide a catch-up session for these two relationships, where defence cooperation has been stymied.

Spotlight | France, United States
Former CIA chief Burns in low-key Paris visit

William Burns, who headed the agency under Joe Biden from 2021 to 2025, gave a talk in the French capital for clients of investment bank Evercore, where he is a senior adviser. The spymaster specifically highlighted the threat China poses to the West.