The primary requirements against France are military, particularly against its nuclear deterrent and advanced military technology.
Espionage operations against our European allies is regarded as highly sensitive within MI6, because officers are aware that this work would be deemed illegal under European law, and has not been authorised by Parliament.
MI6 has, for example, been obtaining for several years intelligence on France's ability to track submerged submarines using remote sensing from satellites. Operations of this nature do not glean very sensitive information, because clearly the informant thinks that the information is likely to reach the public domain and so would not provide genuinely valuable information. |
