The Intelligence Gazette
New public security director in Jordan, Susnjara candidate for DRSD, Kalinovsky Regiment goes political, sex scandal in Copenhagen

Jordan, Syria
Jordanian GID steps up intelligence efforts on its northern border as captagon drug trade grows

In a bid to fight trafficking of the amphetamine-based drug, the kingdom has reinforced intelligence on its northern border with Syria. Amman hopes Damascus will join its increased efforts to stem the trade of captagon flowing between both countries.

France
French defence ministry rolls out cyber emergency response centre for defence firms

Parliamentary discussion of France's draft 2024-2030 military programming bill has put the spotlight on an initiative by the DRSD to provide a computer emergency response team for the defence sector, which is currently being deployed in key regions.

Jordan
Jordanian intelligence searches for encrypted communications provider

As it continues to take measures to increase cooperation between its intelligence and security services, Amman is looking for a provider to secure its communications.

Belarus, Ukraine
Kyiv counts on Kalinovsky Regiment to prepare for a post-Lukashenko Belarus

The Belarusian armed opposition group Kalinovsky, which has been present in Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion, is becoming ever closer to the Kyiv authorities. Ukraine is hoping to tap into the movement to exert greater influence over Minsk's affairs.

Belarus, Ukraine
War in Ukraine: Kalinovsky Regiment aims to expand

The militia group opposed to Alexander Lukashenko, and which is backed by the Ukrainian military intelligence service, is attracting more and more members. Led by its two clandestine commanders, however, it is still locked in dispute with the other exiled Belarusian opposition factions.

Belarus
Belarus opposition in Warsaw disavowed by Kyiv

The alternative government set up by opponents to the Lukashenko regime is struggling to win the Ukrainian government's confidence. Its shadow defence minister is out of favour in Kyiv in the wake of a failed attempt to lead a battalion of volunteers.

Belarus, Ukraine
How Kyiv dismantled Belarusian volunteer militia Pagonia

Pagonia, a group of anti-Lukashenko dissidents, had hoped to be on the front line against Russian forces in Ukraine. However, it stumbled on the realities of the ground, and on interference from the Ukrainian intelligence, eager to keep control of its territory.

Belarus, Russia
Is Belarus about to go to war with Ukraine?

Since the announcement of a partial mobilisation in Russia and the possible transformation of the "special military operation" in Ukraine into an official war, all parties are evaluating the risk of direct involvement of Belarusian troops in the hostilities.

France
Paris seeks to grasp the fluid concept of lawfare

"Lawfare", defined as the instrumentalisation of the law by a state for strategic purposes, is currently the focus of France's SGDSN defence and national security secretariat, which is looking for ways to counter US and soon Chinese regulations imposed on French industry.

Jordan, Syria
Amman and Damascus coordinate intelligence to bring refugees home

There are 39,000 Syrian refugees still registered in Jordan. The government in Damascus has mobilised its intelligence service to advocate for their repatriation, as has Amman, whose Public Safety Directorate is overseeing the departures. Both are keeping a very close watch on the exiled population.

The Corporate Intelligence Village Voice
Nardello, Optima, Ilios, Sparacino, DRSD

Appointments, financial results, new contracts: each week, we report on events both big and small that matter in the global corporate intelligence community. This week, we go to New York, London, Paris and Rome.

New YorkFeldman to take over from Nardello in London.

LondonDeath knell sounds for Optima Defence & Security Group.

Aix-en-Provence/RomeIlios International looks towards Italy.

USSparacino without Veretus.

ParisDRSD boss leaves for Sanofi.

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.

Jordan
GID gets battle ready to tackle drug trafficking

Jordan's intelligence community is on high alert over the increased threat of Captagon pills coming across the border from Syria and has been recruiting amongst those connected to the illicit drug trade there.

France
Military security gets a bumper budget allocation in 2022

After a big increase in funding for France's DGSE external intelligence service in 2021, it will be the turn of the DRSD, defence intelligence and security service, to receive substantial fresh funding for its major development projects in 2022.