MI6 is top European foreign intelligence service, peer review finds
UK’s Secret Intelligence Service praised for playing long game and having ‘a taste for dirty tricks’
TL;DR
- MI6 has been ranked as the most powerful foreign intelligence service in Europe.
- The British intelligence agency scored 251 points in a peer review by 60 professionals from 25 countries.
- MI6 was commended for its expertise in recruiting high-level informants and penetrating ruling elites in Russia, China, Iran, and Turkey.
- France's General Directorate for External Security (DGSE) finished in second place with 169 points.
- The Netherlands, Ukraine, and Germany complete the top five.
- Slovakia's service was rated the worst.
- Experts noted Britain's ability to 'play the long game' and 'a taste for dirty tricks'.
- The DGSE was also rated highly for counter-terrorism and clandestine operations.
- Blaise Metreweli became the first woman to lead MI6 last year.