French Military Intelligence Reports Spike in Foreign Interference

Paris, July 15, 2024 – The French Direction du Renseignement et de la Sécurité de la Défense (DRSD), the country’s military intelligence and counterintelligence agency, has issued an alarming report highlighting a significant increase in foreign interference attempts targeting the French defense sector in 2023.

The DRSD’s findings, disseminated through its economic newsletter on LinkedIn, underscore the heightened vulnerability of military bases, deployed forces, and companies within the defense industrial base (BITD) to aggressive foreign intrusions.

The DRSD’s annual threat assessment, released on July 5, marks the second consecutive year since the onset of the Ukraine conflict that the agency has chosen LinkedIn as its platform for alerting economic circles.

This strategic choice aims to enhance awareness among businesses and professionals who are frequently targeted by foreign intelligence operations. According to the DRSD, LinkedIn has also emerged as a preferred tool for foreign services, notably those from China and Russia, to initiate contact with potential assets.

In its comprehensive 10-page report, the DRSD highlighted a “clear increase” in “human” attacks. These attacks encompass a range of tactics, including cyber thefts, blackmail operations based on real or fabricated offenses, particularly those occurring during international travel, and aggressive poaching strategies aimed at siphoning the expertise and intellectual property of French defense firms.

One of the most concerning trends identified in 2023 is the surge in fake job interviews facilitated through social media. The DRSD pointed to a Chinese consulting firm that has been orchestrating a large-scale poaching campaign within the scientific research sector since November 2022.

This firm has reportedly made over 650 attempts to approach individuals with valuable knowledge and skills, focusing particularly on those contributing to France’s defense capabilities.

The DRSD’s report also documented a notable 10% increase in “security incidents” at French defense industrial sites. These incidents include unauthorized intrusions, tracking attempts, and drone overflights.

One particularly striking case involved a defense company narrowly averting a potential security breach during renovation work. Security personnel detected a worker with a suspicious profile attempting to gain access to the site.

Further screening revealed that the individual was carrying a false Bulgarian identity card and was residing in France illegally, with ties to a country within “the Russian sphere of influence.”

These findings underscore the persistent and evolving threats faced by the French defense sector from foreign state actors. The DRSD’s decision to publicize its assessment through LinkedIn is a deliberate effort to reach and warn a broader audience, particularly those in the economic and industrial sectors who may be at risk.

As the geopolitical landscape continues to shift, the French defense industry must remain vigilant and proactive in addressing these multifaceted threats.

The DRSD’s report serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges in safeguarding national security and protecting critical defense infrastructure from foreign interference.

 

This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members