British MI6 Tops European Intelligence Ranking, Israel’s Mossad Highly Regarded

A recent ranking of European intelligence agencies, based on peer evaluations from 60 agents across 25 organizations, placed the British MI6 as the most esteemed, followed by France’s DGSE and the Netherlands’ intelligence service. The survey, conducted over three months by Etienne Girard, deputy editor of a weekly magazine, assessed agencies on infiltration capabilities, targeted assassinations and sabotage operations, and intelligence gathering including cyber activities.

MI6’s top position is attributed to its expertise in deep infiltration into countries like Russia, China, Iran, and Turkey, and its long-term cultivation of elite university recruits. The French DGSE was praised for its global reach and effective integration of multiple intelligence disciplines, with some agents ranking it first. The Dutch service was noted for its close ties with the U.S. and active role in European cyber operations, including the 2007 Stuxnet attack on Iran.

Germany ranked fifth, viewed more as a research institution than a spy agency, despite notable cyber achievements. Ukraine’s intelligence service gained recognition for its sophistication amid ongoing conflict, while Scandinavian and Baltic agencies were acknowledged for countering Russian espionage. Poland’s service was respected but criticized for political interference, and Hungary’s agency was described as politicized under former Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Though Israel was not formally included in the survey, former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen was interviewed, and Girard personally ranked Mossad among the top three globally, highlighting its unparalleled Middle East expertise, targeted assassinations like the Bibehr operation, and cyber capabilities. Mossad remains a respected ally despite occasional French criticism complicating field operations. The 7 October attacks did not diminish Mossad’s offensive reputation but underscored the critical need for coordination between intelligence and political leadership.

Regarding the global context, the U.S. intelligence community would top an international ranking due to its worldwide reach and information access, though some argue it could perform better given its resources. The survey also revealed that intelligence agencies maintain far closer ties with each other than official diplomatic relations suggest, with effective intelligence seen as a form of national power comparable to nuclear weapons.