MI6 has been rated Europe’s most powerful foreign intelligence service in a ranking compiled by the French magazine L’Express. The assessment was based on the opinions of 60 intelligence professionals from 25 countries.
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The British agency leads the ranking thanks to its ability to recruit high-level spies and infiltrate the political elites of Russia, China, Iran and Turkey.
“The United Kingdom has the strongest intelligence services in Europe. MI6 is exceptional,” said Robert Gorelick, a former CIA station chief.
According to The Times, France’s Directorate-General for External Security (DGSE) took second place. The French service was praised for its global presence, covert operations and involvement in the fight against terrorism.
A Polish intelligence official noted that the DGSE successfully combines human intelligence, technical data collection and operational capabilities.
The Dutch AIVD service ranked third. It was followed by Ukraine, which took fourth place thanks to its innovation and the operations it has conducted since the start of the Russian invasion in 2022.
Germany’s BND ranked fifth. It was praised for its strategic analysis but scored lower for its operational capabilities in the field.
Slovakia’s intelligence service placed last in the ranking and was described as the weakest in Europe.
The report emphasizes that MI6 has also earned particular respect for its role in providing Ukraine with early warning of the Russian invasion, as well as for its ability to conduct intelligence operations spanning long periods.
