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Next issue: 17 August 2026

Intelligence Online

View of NATO headquarters.
View of NATO headquarters.© Photomontage Indigo Publications – Michael Nguyen/NurPhoto/AFP//GaudiLab/iStock

Spotlight | Belgium
Canadian intern of Chinese origin at heart of NATO spying probe

Published on 28/07/26 at 17:35 GMT: With its partners Knack, Le Soir and Follow the Money, our sister publication La Lettre has investigated a Canadian woman of Chinese origin arrested at NATO military headquarters in Belgium this week. She had undertaken several internships, most recently with the Alliance's cyber unit.

Subscribers only | Operations
Rick Crawford, chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, in Washington, DC, 5 March 2026.
Rick Crawford, chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, in Washington, DC, 5 March 2026.© Bonnie Cash/UPI/MaxPPP

United States
House Intelligence Committee calls for more classified budget oversight

Subscribers only | Agencies
Semen Kryvonos, director of Ukraine's NABU anti-corruption bureau, in Kyiv, 13 May 2026.
Semen Kryvonos, director of Ukraine's NABU anti-corruption bureau, in Kyiv, 13 May 2026. © Marianna Kotyk/NurPhoto/NurPhoto via AFP

Ukraine
NABU struggles to recruit investigators

Subscribers only | Operations

China, Syria
Beijing and Damascus in gentle tug-of-war over Syria's Uighurs

Fu Cong, China's ambassador to the United Nations, in New York, 2 July 2026.
Fu Cong, China's ambassador to the United Nations, in New York, 2 July 2026.© Lev Radin/Sipa USA

Behind the rapid warming of ties between China and Syria lies a sensitive issue: the fate of 20,000 Uighurs who have settled in the country. While Beijing makes its investments conditional on limiting the community's rights, Damascus maintains a deliberate ambiguity.

Subscribers only | Back-Door Diplomacy, Defence
In brief

France
First conclusions of encrypted messaging report sent to government

Subscribers only | Agencies
Andriy Yermak (right), accompanied by Oleh Tatarov, deputy head of the presidential office for law enforcement, during a visit to the Ukrainian front line in 2024.
Andriy Yermak (right), accompanied by Oleh Tatarov, deputy head of the presidential office for law enforcement, during a visit to the Ukrainian front line in 2024.© Intelligence Online

Spotlight | Ukraine
Andriy Yermak rebuilds networks amid Ukraine reshuffle

Despite being under electronic surveillance since the Mindich affair, former presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak has been meeting a slew of Ukrainian security officials.

Subscribers only | Agencies
A Pantsir anti-aircraft missile system in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
A Pantsir anti-aircraft missile system in Saint Petersburg, Russia. © Reuters/Anton Vaganov

Russia, Ukraine
Moscow mobilises private sector to mask struggling air defences

Russia's federal government is leaving companies to protect their own infrastructure from Ukrainian strikes in a move that conceals the country's struggling national air defences.

Subscribers only | Defence
Cambodian soldiers walk in formation during The inauguration ceremony of the modernised infrastructure at Ream Naval Base and the Cambodia-China Joint Logistics and Training Center at the Ream naval base in Preah, Sihanouk province on April 5, 2025.
Cambodian soldiers walk in formation during The inauguration ceremony of the modernised infrastructure at Ream Naval Base and the Cambodia-China Joint Logistics and Training Center at the Ream naval base in Preah, Sihanouk province on April 5, 2025.© Tang Chhin Sothy/AFP

Cambodia
Russian Pacific Fleet cracks open the door to Cambodia

In the wake of the Kazan summit, the Russian embassy in Phnom Penh is keen to deepen bilateral military cooperation, with a focus on maritime access.

Subscribers only | Back-Door Diplomacy, Defence
The French Embassy in Bangui, Central African Republic, 30 November 2013.
The French Embassy in Bangui, Central African Republic, 30 November 2013.© Sia Kambou/AFP

Africa, France
Paris sends team to Bangui after alert about embassy

Published on 29/07/26 at 12:00 GMT: Allegations have emerged concerning repeated breaches of security regulations at the French embassy in Bangui, which is currently headed by ambassador Bruno Foucher, a heavyweight of the French diplomatic corps.

Subscribers only | Back-Door Diplomacy
The Telegram logo is displayed on a smartphone, March 16, 2026.
The Telegram logo is displayed on a smartphone, March 16, 2026.© Omar Marques/Sopa Images via Zuma Press Wire

Spotlight | France, Russia
Cybercriminals try to recruit from French intelligence and law enforcement

French cyber intelligence agencies have observed an increase in offers from cyber criminals looking to recruit personnel from law enforcement agencies and intelligence services. Moscow is suspected of being behind some of these job offers.

Subscribers only | Cybersecurity, Operations

United States, Switzerland
Swiss cybersecurity firm Acronis looks to rebuild US relationship

Mobile phone with logo of technology company Acronis International GmbH on screen in front of business website.
Mobile phone with logo of technology company Acronis International GmbH on screen in front of business website.© imagebroker/Timon Schneider/Newscom/MaxPPP

The company has hired the services of a lobbying firm as it seeks to regain procurement opportunities with US agencies.

Subscribers only | Corporate Intel
In brief

Belgium, European Union
EEAS on hunt for crisis management head

Subscribers only | Back-Door Diplomacy, Agencies

Oman
Chinese chip fab entrepreneur floats scheme to move UK-based Imagination to Oman

Imagination Technologies headquarters near London, United Kingdom.
Imagination Technologies headquarters near London, United Kingdom. © Reuters/Hannah McKay

Documents show businessman Chao Yi-Long tried to form an investor consortium in Muscat earlier this year in a bid to acquire a stake in Chinese-held microchip designer Imagination Technologies. It was the first step in a plan to redomicile the firm, which has been under scrutiny by UK lawmakers.

Subscribers only | Corporate Intel
Brussels, a hub for Chinese spies (1/3).
Brussels, a hub for Chinese spies (1/3).© Stéphane Oiry

China, European Union
From seduction to disdain, EU diplomacy grapples with China

Subscribers only | Back-Door Diplomacy | Deep Dive - China's spies in Brussels | 06.16.2026
The US embassy in London, on 22 March 2026.
The US embassy in London, on 22 March 2026.© Vuk Valcic/Zuma Press Wire/Reuters

United States, United Kingdom
Washington beefs up London embassy staff regardless of Trump-Starmer spat

New intelligence specialists, a strengthened Latin America team and military cooperation: regardless of the difficulties in relations between the two countries, Washington is quietly bolstering its security presence in the British capital.

Subscribers only | Agencies | 06.23.2026
Zvika Nave (left), founder of CGI Group, and Yaakov Peri (right), the company’s current chairman and former director of the Shin Bet, at CGI’s offices in Tel Aviv in 2020.
Zvika Nave (left), founder of CGI Group, and Yaakov Peri (right), the company’s current chairman and former director of the Shin Bet, at CGI’s offices in Tel Aviv in 2020.© Abir Sultan/EPA/Newscom/MaxPPP

Israel
Former Shin Bet head targeted in campaign against Israeli private intel group

Moldova-born businessman Alex Sekler claims to have collected dozens of complaints against CGI Group, following a publicity drive against the firm, its founder Zvika Nave, and its listed president, former Shin Bet head Yaakov Peri.

Subscribers only | Corporate Intel | 04.24.2026
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.© Kyodo/MAXPPP

China
Beijing fights back against foreign extraterritorial laws

The Politburo convened a meeting in May with representatives from China’s foreign affairs and business communities to rally diplomats and the diaspora against extraterritorial legislation, primarily from the US and Europe, which threatens the interests of Chinese firms and the Party.

Subscribers only | Back-Door Diplomacy | 05.29.2026
The State Duma, the lower house of the Russian Federal Assembly.
The State Duma, the lower house of the Russian Federal Assembly.© Alexander ASTAFYEV / POOL / AFP

Russia
Tensions run high in Russian services ahead of parliamentary elections

Rivalries between Russian intelligence agencies are intensifying against a backdrop of slow progress on the front lines in Ukraine, economic tensions, and heightened security risks.

Subscribers only | Back-Door Diplomacy, Agencies | 05.29.2026
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (right) attends a welcome ceremony with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, on 25 May 2026.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (right) attends a welcome ceremony with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, on 25 May 2026. © Kyodo/MaxPPP

China, Hungary, Serbia
Beijing's Belt and Road 'militias' to be deployed in Serbia, Hungary and Poland

The Chinese Communist Party is preparing to deploy elite police units in Central Europe to protect Chinese interests. This move, which comes as tensions between China and the European Union are running high, will also serve to establish contingents to monitor and influence the region.

Subscribers only | Operations, Defence | 06.18.2026

UAE
UAE strikes Iran, but homegrown weapons nowhere to be seen

For the first time ever, the UAE carried out direct strikes against Iran at the height of the conflict. But faced with urgent operational needs, Abu Dhabi turned to foreign platforms, whilst those developed by its own EDGE Group remained on the sidelines.

Subscribers only | Defence | 04.16.2026

United States
From CIA officer to TikTok star

John Kiriakou has become prominent in the social media sphere, even as he continues intelligence-related work in the private sector.

Subscribers only | Corporate Intel | 05.08.2026
The Paris-based headquaters of France's DGSE foreign intelligence agency.
The Paris-based headquaters of France's DGSE foreign intelligence agency. © DGSE/AFP

Georgia, France
DGSE at heart of high-profile espionage case exposed by Georgian intel

The French foreign intelligence agency had this month to call back three of its officiers based in Tblisi after Georgia's State Security Service exposed the DGSE's recruitment of a key figure close to former PM Bidzina Ivanishvili, sparking a rift between the countries.

Subscribers only | Agencies, Operations | 06.03.2026
An employee of the Ukrainian company Skyfall carries out a test flight with a P1-Sun interceptor drone in Ukraine, on 19 March 2026.
An employee of the Ukrainian company Skyfall carries out a test flight with a P1-Sun interceptor drone in Ukraine, on 19 March 2026.© Genya Savilov/AFP

Spotlight | UAE, Ukraine
Abu Dhabi secures exclusive rights to Ukrainian Shahed interceptors

The United Arab Emirates has secured exclusive access to the Shahed drone interceptors made by Ukraine's Skyfall, beating out Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The first deliveries arrived last week, but their deployment is hampered by a lack of operators and incomplete integration into local command systems.

Subscribers only | Defence | 04.28.2026

United States, Uzbekistan
Sergio Gor, the man helping Central Asian countries woo Washington

Sergio Gor, US Ambassador to India.
Sergio Gor, US Ambassador to India. © Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

A key ally of US President Donald Trump, Sergio Gor is now a vital liaison for Central Asian governments seeking to curry favour with Washington. Currently US ambassador to India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asia born, the diplomat born in Tashkent has become a key liaison between the region and US business interests.

Subscribers only | Corporate Intel, Back-Door Diplomacy | 04.16.2026

UAE
Hedayah consolidates role as major player in UAE diplomacy

Based in the United Arab Emirates and presented as a multilateral advisory centre for countering extremism, Hedayah is consolidating its position as a key player in the country’s major diplomatic strategies.

Subscribers only | Back-Door Diplomacy | 04.23.2026
From left to right: Linda Sun, a Sino-American, and Peter Mandelson, a Briton, both of whom have been implicated in scandals that have rocked G7 countries.
From left to right: Linda Sun, a Sino-American, and Peter Mandelson, a Briton, both of whom have been implicated in scandals that have rocked G7 countries.© M. Santiago/Getty/AFP//J. Brady/Press Association Images/MaxPPP//B. Tessier/AFP//PromesaArtStudio/iStock - Photo editing and assembly: Bénédicte Gouttebroze/Indigo Publications

China, Canada
Chinese interference in G7 countries 'systemic', report warns

A comparative study on China's informational campaigns led in all G7 countries and published in late May, recommends the setting up of a task force to fight common weaknesses, and particularly at local level.

Subscribers only | Information Wars | 05.21.2026

Japan, China
Tokyo warns of Chinese interference aimed at promoting Okinawa's independence

The Japanese and Okinawa prefecture flags.
The Japanese and Okinawa prefecture flags.© inhee Lee/NurPhoto via AFP

Sources on Japan’s Okinawa island, which hosts numerous US military bases, reported to the Japanese agency responsible for countering foreign interference that in late 2025, pseudo-academic activity in China related to “Ryukyu studies” increased, with the aim of promoting a pro-independence narrative.

Subscribers only | Operations | 04.29.2026

United States
US intelligence candidates asked to demonstrate Trump loyalty

Subscribers only | Agencies | 05.28.2026

Germany, Russia
European spy agencies keeping tabs on Russian lawyer in Germany

Subscribers only | Operations | 04.15.2026
The director of the European Union Intelligence and Situation Centre, Daniel Markic.
The director of the European Union Intelligence and Situation Centre, Daniel Markic.© Radek Pietruszka/EPA/MaxPPP

Spy Master | Croatia, European Union
Daniel Markic, the European Union's top spy

Subscribers only | Agencies | 05.08.2026
Satellite image showing the damage sustained by Aramco's Ras Tanura refinery following an Iranian drone attack on 2 March 2026.
Satellite image showing the damage sustained by Aramco's Ras Tanura refinery following an Iranian drone attack on 2 March 2026.© Vantor/AFP

Saudi Arabia
MbS-backed defence industry putting up resistance to Aramco’s self-defence plans

GAMI and SAMI, the bodies set up by Mohammed bin Salman to equip Saudi Arabia’s defence forces, are under increasing internal pressure. Weakened by Iranian attacks, the Saudi national oil company Aramco is looking to set up its own anti-drone unit, having already developed in-house programmes in the naval and secure telecoms sectors.

Subscribers only | Defence | 04.13.2026
Video games and intelligence (1/2).
Video games and intelligence (1/2).© Stéphane Oiry

United States, Japan, France
The 'ninjas' at Nintendo, Sega and Sony who hunt down traitors and leaks

Subscribers only | Corporate Intel | Deep Dive - Video games and intelligence 2 | 04.16.2026
The London headquarters of the Serious Fraud Office.
The London headquarters of the Serious Fraud Office.© Robert Evans/Alamy

United Kingdom, Oman
Serious Fraud Office probe into Ultra Electronics exposes Oman's business networks

The UK's anti-corruption agency's investigation into the strategic British signals intelligence firm Ultra Electronics has indirectly revealed highly influential business networks in Oman.

Subscribers only | Contractors, Corporate Intel | 05.27.2026
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te in Taipei, Taiwan, on 9 September 2025.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te in Taipei, Taiwan, on 9 September 2025. © Daniel Ceng/Anadolu via AFP

United States, Europe, Taiwan, China
Beijing toughens stance on Taiwan and Hong Kong's non-US foreign supporters

Chinese leader Xi Jinping has capitalised on Washington’s ambiguous stance on Taiwan to implement a discreet strategic overhaul. Lawmakers, journalists, and media outlets from Japan and other non-US Western democracies that express solidarity with either Taiwan or the Lai Ching-te administration are being monitored and may be barred from entering China.

Subscribers only | Operations, Back-Door Diplomacy | 06.23.2026
A model of the Starlink V2 (Gen 2) satellite on display at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, on 5 March 2026.
A model of the Starlink V2 (Gen 2) satellite on display at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, on 5 March 2026. © Joan Cros/NurPhoto via AFP

Israel
Israeli cyber industry veteran in the Gulf tracking Starlink users

De-anonymising Starlink users, who are on the rise in most conflict zones, is fast becoming a lucrative business in the field of global cyber. A Cypriot-Israeli company, backed by a successful supplier of Israeli cyber tools to Saudi Arabia and the Emirates, has seized this new opportunity.

Subscribers only | Cybersecurity | 05.11.2026
Soldiers from units of the Ukrainian State Special Transport Service are reinforcing the front line in the Donetsk region on 20 June 2025.
Soldiers from units of the Ukrainian State Special Transport Service are reinforcing the front line in the Donetsk region on 20 June 2025.© Tetiana Dzhafarova/AFP

Ukraine, United States
Ukrainian military unit turns to Washington for financial backing

Through a little-known foundation, the Ukrainian State Special Transport Service has enlisted the services of a longtime US energy executive with business experience in Ukraine.

Subscribers only | Back-Door Diplomacy, Corporate Intel | 05.06.2026

United States
US diplomatic intelligence nominee doubles down on anti-European essay

During his nomination hearing to head the Bureau of Intelligence and Research, Michael Vance told the Senate Intelligence Committee that his unusually political essay criticising several European countries, was consistent with current US foreign policy.

Subscribers only | Agencies | 06.09.2026

United Kingdom
British intel firm Control Risks on the hunt for external investors

Subscribers only | Corporate Intel, Contractors | 06.17.2026
The head of France's DGSE external security agency Nicolas Lerner, in Paris, on 11 June 2026.
The head of France's DGSE external security agency Nicolas Lerner, in Paris, on 11 June 2026.© Adnan Farzat/NurPhoto via AFP

France
DGSE locks down top positions until presidential

From new appointments to job extensions, France's foreign intelligence service is making its final staff adjustments ahead of next year's presidential election.

Subscribers only | Agencies | 06.18.2026
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and French President Emmanuel Macron in Tokyo, on 2 April 2026.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and French President Emmanuel Macron in Tokyo, on 2 April 2026.© Kyodo/MaxPPP

Japan
Takaichi’s intelligence reform looks to international cooperation to fix its flaws

In their reports submitted on the eve of Japan's intelligence reform, the country's ruling party and the House of Councillors' Research Office strongly emphasised the need to draw on foreign expertise given Japanese intelligence agencies' serious shortcomings. Alongside Five Eyes, France is regularly cited as a model.

Subscribers only | Agencies | 04.06.2026
A statue of St Peter at the Vatican, to which US private security and intelligence firm VORDR International loosely claims to have ties.
A statue of St Peter at the Vatican, to which US private security and intelligence firm VORDR International loosely claims to have ties. © Gabriel Bouys/AFP

Spotlight | United States, Vatican
Ex-CIA agents claim security contracts with 'Vatican' stamp

Subscribers only | Contractors, Agencies | 06.23.2026
US President Donald Trump in Washington DC, on 6 April 2026.
US President Donald Trump in Washington DC, on 6 April 2026. © Li Rui/Xinhua News Agency/Newscom/MaxPPP

United States
How Trump’s Greenland ambitions are reshaping strategic analysis

Made up of the intelligence community's top analysts, the National Intelligence Council has recently added a new unit to reflect White House priorities.

Subscribers only | Agencies | 04.09.2026

Middle East, United States
US ramps up security at its Middle East embassies

The US Embassy in Iraq, in Baghdad’s Green Zone, on 17 March 2026.
The US Embassy in Iraq, in Baghdad’s Green Zone, on 17 March 2026.© Ceerwan Aziz/EPA/MaxPPP
Subscribers only | Contractors, Back-Door Diplomacy | 05.25.2026

China, India, Russia
China seeks new BRICS+ strategy for 2027 summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping during a plenary session held as part of the BRICS+ format at the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, on 24 October 2024.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping during a plenary session held as part of the BRICS+ format at the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, on 24 October 2024. © Maxim Shemetov/Pool/Reuters
Subscribers only | Back-Door Diplomacy | 06.04.2026

UAE, Saudi Arabia
Speculation mounts over media briefing war between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh

A succession of exposés concerning the Emirati and Saudi response to Iranian aggression has been fuelling speculation over negative PR campaigns.

Subscribers only | Information Wars | 05.25.2026
Houthis stage a protest against US and Israeli attacks on Iran, in Sanaa, Yemen, on 3 April 2026.
Houthis stage a protest against US and Israeli attacks on Iran, in Sanaa, Yemen, on 3 April 2026.© Mohammed Hamoud/Anadolu via AFP

Yemen, Jordan
Jordanian intelligence's secret pact with Houthis

Subscribers only | Back-Door Diplomacy | 04.07.2026
Europol’s headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands. A meeting organised in recent months under the auspices of this European agency brought together police and security services from across Europe to discuss China’s transnational law enforcement operations.
Europol’s headquarters in The Hague, Netherlands. A meeting organised in recent months under the auspices of this European agency brought together police and security services from across Europe to discuss China’s transnational law enforcement operations.© Vincent Isore/IP3 Press/MaxPPP

China, Netherlands
Beijing’s targeting of dissidents presents fresh challenge for European intelligence agencies

In response to transnational repression campaigns by Chinese authorities in Europe, security services across the continent are increasingly coordinating their efforts and stepping up exchanges.

Subscribers only | Operations | 04.23.2026
A soldier from the French Cyber Defence Regiment, in Paris, on 6 January 2026.
A soldier from the French Cyber Defence Regiment, in Paris, on 6 January 2026. © Thomas Samson/AFP

Ukraine, France
French cyber defence regiment sending specialists to learn in Ukraine

Soldiers from France's cyber defence regiment are carrying out rotations in Ukraine to study Russian services' methods. Working alongside CERT-UA and the SBU’s Cyber Security Situation Centre, they help France learn how to protect the army’s future tactical networks.

Subscribers only | Operations, Cybersecurity, Defence | 06.24.2026
A Latin American operative from a private military company overseeing the advance of Congolese special forces in Kivu, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
A Latin American operative from a private military company overseeing the advance of Congolese special forces in Kivu, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.© Intelligence Online

UAE, Ukraine, Africa
Kyiv, a new recruitment hub for DRC's drone war

People linked to Global Security Services Group are recruiting Latin American First-Person View drone operators in Ukraine who have served on the front against Russia. An initial contingent of these pilots was recently flown to the Kivu region, in Democratic Republic of Congo.

Subscribers only | Defence, Contractors | 04.22.2026
On the right, one of the strippers at Only. On the left: foreign mercenaries fighting with the Ukrainian GUR, flying the Forward Observation Group (FOG) flag. Centre: the SBU logo.
On the right, one of the strippers at Only. On the left: foreign mercenaries fighting with the Ukrainian GUR, flying the Forward Observation Group (FOG) flag. Centre: the SBU logo.© Intelligence Online - Photo editing and assembly: Bénédicte Gouttebroze/Indigo Publications

Spy Way Of Life | Ukraine
'Only', Kyiv's secret strip club for spies, mafia figures and Western contractors

Operating outside any legal framework, the 'Only' draws SBU agents, criminals and Western contractors wanting to mingle with locals in a cosy venue that happily ignores the curfew.

Subscribers only | Back-Door Diplomacy | 04.24.2026
The South Korean Navy's conventional Shin Chaeho submarine seen here off the southern port city of Busan, on 26 September 2025.
The South Korean Navy's conventional Shin Chaeho submarine seen here off the southern port city of Busan, on 26 September 2025. © Jung Yeon-je/AFP

Australia, United States, South Korea
Seoul's future nuclear sub programme, a better deal than AUKUS?

Subscribers only | Defence | 06.30.2026
The US Department of State building in Washington.
The US Department of State building in Washington.© iStock/Westy72

United States
Ex-US counterterrorism official enlisted to help lift sanctions on Chinese telecom firm

Subscribers only | Corporate Intel | 05.13.2026

Europe, United States, Russia
Washington opens new front against Europe in the Balkans

The former High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina Christian Schmidt who resigned on 11 May 2026.
The former High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina Christian Schmidt who resigned on 11 May 2026. © Samir Jordamovic/Anadolu via AFP
Subscribers only | Back-Door Diplomacy | 06.02.2026

UAE, United Kingdom
London's strategic advisory sector feels the pinch as Abu Dhabi's interest in Britain cools

UAE diplomats and investment officials are making fewer visits to the UK, advisory sector sources say, after deciding the country is unfriendly to its sovereign wealth money and with a problematic stance on tackling political Islam.

Subscribers only | Back-Door Diplomacy | 06.16.2026

Taiwan, China
Guoanbu doubles down on long-term clandestine operations in Taiwan

Beijing's spies have shifted from recruiting agents among Taiwan's elite to targeting soldiers, police, and local officials in the self-ruled island through criminal gangs, underground banks and money lenders.

Subscribers only | Operations, Defence | 06.12.2026
Leading French private intel firm ESL & Network reportedly offered one of its clients the opportunity to organise a conference possibly attended by the DGSE chief.
Leading French private intel firm ESL & Network reportedly offered one of its clients the opportunity to organise a conference possibly attended by the DGSE chief. © Serge Tenani/Hans Lucas via AFP

France
Leading French private intel firm offered to 'bring DGSE spymaster' to one of its clients

Subscribers only | Corporate Intel | 06.23.2026
Riyadh skyline, on 28 May 2025.
Riyadh skyline, on 28 May 2025.© Hamad I Mohammed/Reuters

United States, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia
Saudi defence ministry boosts pool of strategic consultants

The British consultancy Connect Advisory, headed by former FBI and British Army officers, is set to secure a number of contracts with the Saudi defence ministry, posing a serious challenge to established players in the field.

Subscribers only | Contractors, Operations, Defence | 04.09.2026
US President Donald Trump greets the US ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, during a ceremony marking Greek Independence Day in Washington, on 26 March 2026.
US President Donald Trump greets the US ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, during a ceremony marking Greek Independence Day in Washington, on 26 March 2026. © Will Oliver/Pool/MaxPPP

Greece, United States, Bulgaria
US ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle pushing transatlantic LNG deal

The current US ambassador to Greece is working to secure a deal which would involve American, Greek and Bulgarian energy companies.

Subscribers only | Back-Door Diplomacy, Corporate Intel | 05.20.2026
A view of Istanbul, Turkey, on 18 June 2026.
A view of Istanbul, Turkey, on 18 June 2026. © Cem Tekkesinoglu/Anadolu via AFP

Spotlight | Russia, Turkey, Ukraine
Turkish hub at heart of Ukraine and Europe's hunt for Russia's shadow fleet

Thanks to unprecedented cooperation, EU member states' and Kyiv intelligence services have found that Turkey has become a hub for Russia's shadow fleet. A network of companies in Istanbul now provides Moscow’s preferred way to smuggle oil, an activity that remains legal under Turkish law.

Subscribers only | Operations | 06.25.2026

Middle East
Sanctioned Chinese satellite images continue to circulate via Telegram

A satellite image by MizarVision of the Muwaffaq Salti base in Jordan, which houses US facilities.
A satellite image by MizarVision of the Muwaffaq Salti base in Jordan, which houses US facilities.© Telegram

Pro-Iranian groups on the social media platform are sharing satellite images of sensitive sites in the Middle East, curtailing Washington's attempts to limit exposure of its facilities. The images are thought to be coming from Chinese companies.

Subscribers only | Information Wars, Cybersecurity | 05.29.2026

France, Latvia, Myanmar, Estonia
From Myanmar to the Baltic states, French intel tracks former legionnaires working for private firms

Nearly two years after the Burmese fiasco, French intelligence officers are still monitoring networks of former Foreign Legion soldiers working as private security contractors. Investigators recently travelled to Estonia.

Subscribers only | Operations | 05.04.2026

China
Xi Jinping and the delicate challenge of Donald Trump

Xi, the purges and the succession (1/5).
Xi, the purges and the succession (1/5).© Stéphane Oiry

The Chinese leader is preparing to welcome Donald Trump to Beijing. That visit goes beyond mere diplomatic concessions and is part of a delicate internal dynamic: the run-up to the 2027 Party congress, where Xi Jinping is focusing his efforts to consolidate his position.

Subscribers only | Back-Door Diplomacy | Deep Dive - Xi, purges and succession | 05.04.2026
The United States' acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Bill Pulte.
The United States' acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Bill Pulte.© Bonnie Cash/Picture alliance/Consolidated News Photos/Newscom/MaxPPP

United States
Bill Pulte goes after Tulsi Gabbard's inner circle at ODNI

As the National Intelligence Directorate changes hands, tensions are running high, with reprisals against Tulsi Gabbard’s allies and fears of massive purges.

Subscribers only | Agencies | 06.25.2026
A Rafale fighter jet at the Dubai Airshow in 2025.
A Rafale fighter jet at the Dubai Airshow in 2025.© Amr Alfiky/Reuters

UAE, France
Behind a French-Emirati rapprochement over Rafale's future

The official scrapping of the landmark Franco-German fighter jet project has prompted Paris to speed up its search for new funding. Dassault has turned its focus towards the UAE, which is proving very receptive to these new developments.

Subscribers only | Defence | 06.17.2026
Anti-monarchy protesters holding placards bearing the image of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor demonstrate in London on 9 March 2026.
Anti-monarchy protesters holding placards bearing the image of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor demonstrate in London on 9 March 2026. © Andy Rain/EPA/MaxPPP

United Kingdom
Foreign office had to 'man-manage' ex-prince Andrew

A UK police investigation of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's conduct while in public office is looking at the former prince's contacts during foreign trips. Former officials say some meetings were part of a damage limitation strategy by the foreign office simply to keep the prince busy.

Subscribers only | Back-Door Diplomacy | 06.04.2026

Spy Way Of Life | China, Europe
Funky Monkey, the Brussels pub popular with European diplomats and Chinese state media

The Funky Monkey, in Brussels.
The Funky Monkey, in Brussels.© Google Maps

Across the globe, spies gather in inconspicuous places to meet contacts and hold discreet conversations. This week, Intelligence Online visits the Funky Monkey in Brussels, nestled between the offices of the EU’s diplomatic service and those of China's state news agency.

Subscribers only | Back-Door Diplomacy | 06.26.2026

UAE
Turmoil reigns within Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohammed’s R&D defence ecosystem

The Technology Innovation Institute, an institution focused on creating a sovereign R&D ecosystem to support the UAE’s defence sector, is undergoing serious upheaval. A power struggle within the institute’s senior leadership lies at the root of this turmoil.

Subscribers only | Defence | 06.30.2026
© Inkoly/iStock – Edited by Indigo Publications

Spotlight | Germany, France
Fresh ChapsVision-Berlin deal could herald EU intel consolidation

The German domestic intelligence service has signed a contract with French firm Chapsvision to use their intelligence data fusion software. The deal marks the first step towards a potential consolidated European pushback against the dominance of the current market leader, US group Palantir.

Subscribers only | Cybersecurity, Agencies | 05.15.2026

United States
Washington seeks to bolster arsenal in Arctic against Chinese and Russian espionage

Utah Republican Senator Mike Lee introduced a bill in Congress on 8 June 2026 concerning access to US territorial waters for certain research vessels.
Utah Republican Senator Mike Lee introduced a bill in Congress on 8 June 2026 concerning access to US territorial waters for certain research vessels.© Graeme Sloan/EPA/MaxPPP

Dual-use scientific missions are under scrutiny by Congress which - in a bid to counter espionage efforts by Beijing and Moscow - hopes to curb research vessels' access to US territorial waters.

Subscribers only | Operations | 06.15.2026

United States
US Congress pushes for more Indo-Pacific intelligence sharing

With many allies questioning Washington’s reliability, US lawmakers are seeking to safeguard Indo-Pacific intelligence cooperation with the Five Eyes and other partners like Japan.

Subscribers only | Agencies | 06.02.2026
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang, on 8 June 2026.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang, on 8 June 2026.© Yan Yan/Xinhua via AFP

China, North Korea, South Korea
Xi-Kim summit: Seoul backs down on denuclearisation

While the Chinese president's visit to Pyongyang aims to cement his role as front-line mediator, Seoul has taken a risky gamble to avoid being sidelined from negotiations by abandoning its demands for North Korea's denuclearisation.

Subscribers only | Back-Door Diplomacy | 06.08.2026
Martin Jaeger, BND director since September 2025, has launched a major reform of the service.
Martin Jaeger, BND director since September 2025, has launched a major reform of the service.© Sebastian Rau/photothek.de/DPA Picture-Alliance via AFP

Germany
Recent promotions fuel resentment among BND staff as new overhaul looms

A newly created position of communications director in Germany's foreign intelligence service has riled personnel, who remain without pay raises amid wide-reaching reforms of the agency's administrative structure.

Subscribers only | Agencies | 05.26.2026
Members of the Sudanese Armed Forces in Omdurman, Sudan, on 9 March 2024.
Members of the Sudanese Armed Forces in Omdurman, Sudan, on 9 March 2024. © El Tayeb Siddig/Reuters

UAE
Abu Dhabi seeks PR support on Sudan file

Having long kept its own counsel regarding events in Khartoum, the UAE has decided to take a more front-footed approach to explaining its geo-strategic positioning, and its fight against political Islam, sources told Intelligence Online.

Subscribers only | Corporate Intel | 06.08.2026
General Ye Win Oo, commander-in-chief of the junta's armed forces, in Naypyidaw, on 30 March 2026.
General Ye Win Oo, commander-in-chief of the junta's armed forces, in Naypyidaw, on 30 March 2026. © EPA/MaxPPP

Spy Master | Myanmar
Ye Win Oo, Myanmar's ruthless spymaster turned military chief

To general surprise, Myanmar strongman Min Aung Hlaing - now “president” - has named his head of military intelligence, Ye Win Oo, commander-in-chief of the junta's armed forces. A steadfast aide, he has been rewarded for unwavering loyalty and his successes in the counter-revolutionary shadow war.

Subscribers only | Defence, Agencies | 06.05.2026
Belgium's VSSE civilian intelligence and security service administrator general Francisca Bostyn in Brussels in March 2024.
Belgium's VSSE civilian intelligence and security service administrator general Francisca Bostyn in Brussels in March 2024. © Dirk Waem/Reuters

Belgium
Brussels ramps up intelligence

As the country stiffens penalties for espionage and foreign interference, its civilian and military intelligence services are also expanding their capabilities.

Subscribers only | Agencies | 05.27.2026
A Royal Air Force Typhoon aircraft, on 6 March 2026.
A Royal Air Force Typhoon aircraft, on 6 March 2026.© Shauna Martin/Ministry of Defence/EPA/MaxPPP

Qatar, Turkey, United Kingdom
Ankara's Typhoon fighter jet mega-deal called into doubt

Qatar's decision to suspend its participation in a mega-contract to sell Typhoon jets to Turkey due to the Iran conflict has fuelled concerns at British defence giant BAE Systems. The move could have an impact on some of the multi-party agreement's provisions.

Subscribers only | Defence | 05.12.2026
End of today's selection

Americas

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US Army soldiers deploy a stratospheric balloon in the Philippines on 1 April 2022, as part of the joint military exercise Balikatan 22.
US Army soldiers deploy a stratospheric balloon in the Philippines on 1 April 2022, as part of the joint military exercise Balikatan 22. © U.S. Army/ZumaPress/REA

Spotlight | United States
World View spy balloons helping US rise above Tehran and Beijing

World View's stratospheric observation systems were discreetly integrated into Washington's ISR architecture during operations against Iran. Using Palantir, the balloons also feed GEOINT to US special operations command and support image and signals intelligence collection across the Indo-Pacific.
LogoSubscribers only Operations, Defence 08.07.2026

Middle East & Africa

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Europe-Russia

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The Telegram logo is displayed on a smartphone, March 16, 2026.
The Telegram logo is displayed on a smartphone, March 16, 2026.© Omar Marques/Sopa Images via Zuma Press Wire

Spotlight | France, Russia
Cybercriminals try to recruit from French intelligence and law enforcement

French cyber intelligence agencies have observed an increase in offers from cyber criminals looking to recruit personnel from law enforcement agencies and intelligence services. Moscow is suspected of being behind some of these job offers.
LogoSubscribers only Operations, Cybersecurity 31.07.2026

Asia-Pacific

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View of the BSL-4 laboratory in Wuhan, China, on 21 December 2024. Beijing is currently completing the construction of a fifth lab of this type.
View of the BSL-4 laboratory in Wuhan, China, on 21 December 2024. Beijing is currently completing the construction of a fifth lab of this type.© Hector Retamal/AFP

Spotlight | China
Army bigwig completing construction work of new top-security pathogen lab in Guangzhou

Ten years after the construction of the famous site in Wuhan, China is finishing the buildings of a new high-security laboratory at the prestigious Sun Yat-sen University. The project has been entrusted to a renowned researcher from the People's Liberation Army.
LogoSubscribers only Defence 27.07.2026

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