International Monetary Fund

Argentina, Saudi Arabia
Buenos Aires delegation on the lookout for lucrative Saudi investments

Having adopted legislation in July to provide favourable conditions for large foreign investments, Buenos Aires is now on the lookout for major investors and has Saudi Arabia in its sights.

Pakistan
Islamabad appoints new minister to beef up support for defence exports

Shehbaz Sharif, who has just been elected prime minister for the second time, has appointed a new defence production secretary tasked with backing Pakistani defence groups' export efforts, particularly in the Gulf.

The Intelligence Gazette
Ukrainian BEB, France in NATO, US Army in Europe, AUKUS

Appointments, reforms and key issues: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community, from Washington to Tampere, and Landstuhl to Canberra.

UkraineAnti-corruption audit of economic security bureau

France/NATOParis builds up communication channels with the alliance

United States/Germany/FinlandFinland and US Army forge connection

United States/AustraliaAUKUS forces State Department to adapt

United States
Cosmos Club's new president Michael Pocalyko comes with Saudi baggage

The elite Washington club, once a haunt for senior CIA officials, announced the private investigator's election only months after he was implicated in the case of Eden Knight, who reportedly committed suicide soon after arriving in Saudi Arabia.

Argentina, China, United States
Top US general travels to Buenos Aires in bid to block China's JF-17 Thunder aircraft deal

A delegation from the Pentagon is expected to arrive in Buenos Aires on Monday in an effort to convince Argentinian authorities to hold off on several strategic defence agreements with Beijing.

Germany, Iraq
British, UAE intel firms help Iraq money-laundering fight with German funding

German development agency GIZ is funding a programme to help Iraq in its fight against money-laundering and with its asset recovery probes. Two firms have been chosen for this financial investigation job: Britain's Adam Smith International and Emirati company IntelliSys.

Argentina, China, United States
Argentina keeps a low profile to secure deal for F-16 fighter aircraft

As China and the United States fight for influence in Argentina, Economy Minister Sergio Massa is finalising the details of an order from the US for a batch of Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter aircraft. Argentina wants to announce the order early in 2023 in the hope that this will help it speed up negotiations on a third revision of Argentina's debt agreement with the IMF.

Ukraine
Ukraine's new economic security bureau finds its feet while war rages on

Ukraine's investigation and economic intelligence entity, which is heavily mobilised in the war, is gradually establishing its place in Ukraine's security architecture and trying to respond to donor countries' demands for greater transparency and stronger measures against corruption.

UAE
Dubai steps up anti-money laundering policy

The United Arab Emirates is working hard to make its tools compliant with the standards of the Financial Action Task Force, as it's still on the anti-money laundering institution's "grey list". Dubai's financial regulator has begun to take tougher action on companies that are slow to get on board.

Iran, United States
Seasoned lobbyist Ayal Frank signs up with Iranian Kurds

The communications consultant, who already works on behalf of the Syrian Kurds, was recently hired by the Iranian Kurdish party Komala. In Washington, he intends to promote the interests of the Middle Eastern minority as a whole.

Spotlight | United States
UN agencies beef up due diligence

Increasingly conscious of reputational and corruption risks, UN agencies are discreetly beefing up their compliance and due diligence, supplied by a diverse array of consulting firms in this sector.

Argentina, China, United States
Washington launches political and security counter-offensive against Beijing in Argentina

To curb China's increasing influence in Argentina, the US has organised visits by delegations in the country, some of which have taken place secretly. After successfully freezing the Parana dredging project, Washington wants to block construction of a Chinese logistics centre.

Pakistan, UAE
Emirati bankers extra-vigilant in Islamabad after fall of Imran Khan

In the space of just 10 days, Pakistan saw the deadline for repayment of a $2bn loan from the Emirates extended, Prime Minister Imran Khan brought down and Shebhaz Sharif appointed in his place. In this unstable period, the Emirati business community is keeping a close eye on its key assets in the country.