MI6 Ranked Most Powerful Intelligence Service in Europe
MI6 earned the top spot in a peer review by French magazine L'Express for its ability to penetrate foreign ruling elites.
A peer review conducted by the French magazine L’Express ranked MI6 as the most powerful foreign intelligence service in Europe. The study surveyed 60 professionals across 25 countries, awarding the British agency 251 points. Evaluators cited the agency's proficiency in recruiting high-level informants and its success in penetrating ruling elites in Russia, China, Iran, and Turkey.
France's General Directorate for External Security ranked second with 169 points, recognized for its counter-terrorism capabilities and global reach. The Netherlands, Ukraine, and Germany completed the top five, while the intelligence service of Slovakia received the lowest rating.
The review noted the United Kingdom's strategic role as the first nation to warn Ukraine about the 2022 Russian invasion. Former CIA officials contributed to the sentiment, describing the British services as the strongest in Europe. The agency is currently led by Blaise Metreweli, who became the first woman to head the organization last year.
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