The new director of the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) signals a change in strategy at a time when Europe is facing an escalation in confrontation with Russia.
This is the conclusion of an article published by Foreign Policy, which analyzes the first public messages conveyed by Blaise Metreweli, the first woman to lead MI6.
According to the analysis, Metreweli is not just proposing a speech adjustment but a reorientation of the service towards a more aggressive area of action, in a context described by her as "between peace and war."
From #ForgetJamesBond to a Tougher Mission
For an organization that should operate in the shadows, MI6 has carefully cultivated a public presence in recent years. The official message was that of a "modern, diverse, and inclusive" service, far removed from both James Bond films and the austere universe of John le Carré's novels.
Former MI6 chief Richard Moore even promoted the idea of "family-friendly" careers under the hashtag #ForgetJamesBond. Metreweli's appointment has also been interpreted by some as part of this image strategy.
However, the Foreign Policy article warns that "attributing her promotion solely to gender would be a mistake."
An Operational Career
Metreweli has had a solid career within MI6, culminating in leading the "Q" branch responsible for science and technology. Although the name comes from the Bond universe, it actually involves the development of sophisticated espionage technologies focused on miniaturization and camouflage.
In her first public speech as MI6 chief, Metreweli surprised with her chosen themes. Terrorism - a major priority for over two decades - was barely mentioned. China, considered by the British government as the greatest long-term threat, was almost completely absent. Likewise, the United States, traditionally London's main intelligence ally.
Instead, the focus was on Russia.
- UK Secret Intelligence Service has uncovered a "stunningly bold" Russian sabotage campaign in Europe
Russia and the "Space Between Peace and War"
Metreweli described what she called "Russia's campaign to export chaos," listing fires, sabotage, cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure, drones flying over airports and military bases, "aggressive" underwater activities, and influence operations aimed at exploiting "fractures within societies."
"In this space between peace and war, MI6 will no longer limit itself to understanding its adversaries," she said.
The service will actively act against them: "We will strengthen our advantage and impact boldly, drawing - if you will - on our historical instincts of the SOE type."
The reference is to the Special Operations Executive (SOE), the structure created in 1940 by Winston Churchill with the mission to "ignite Europe" through sabotage and support for resistance in Nazi-occupied territories.
A Departure from MI6's Recent Strategy
This vision marks a departure from the direction taken in recent years when MI6 focused its resources on collecting high-level information for policymakers.
According to Foreign Policy, former chief Richard Moore dismantled a costly department - Strategic Advantage - in 2020, which explicitly dealt with hostile activities of Russia, China, and Iran. The idea that MI6 should be "a universal tool" for secret operations was then rejected from within.
The result was obtaining highly useful information for negotiations and political decisions, but which, some officials say, translated less easily into concrete effects on the ground.
A former British minister describes MI6's information production as "below expectations." In 2024, former deputy director Nigel Inkster publicly criticized the weakening of MI6's expertise on China, citing deficiencies in linguistic skills and historical and cultural understanding.
In addition, massive digital surveillance makes classic espionage increasingly difficult, especially in Russia and China.
How Far Can MI6 Go?
The Foreign Policy author suggests that MI6 could go further: leaking compromising information about Vladimir Putin's associates, disrupting daily life in Russia through psychological operations, or even stimulating local economic panic.
Such actions "do not require access to top secrets, but rather imagination and ingenuity," notes the analysis.
However, the major issue remains political: who takes responsibility if an operation fails... or if it succeeds too well and triggers direct reprisals from Russia?
Therefore, if Metreweli imposes her vision, MI6 is expected to return to what, in American jargon, is called "covert action" - secret operations through which a state tries to influence or destabilize an opponent without publicly assuming responsibility.
A Strong Institution in a Weakened State
Metreweli currently enjoys political support. MI6 is, in fact, one of the least supervised institutions of the British state, and its failures, like its successes, remain largely secret.
In a Britain marked by a weakened military, declining external influence, and a fragile economy, MI6 remains one of the few institutions with a solid global reputation.
And, as Foreign Policy suggests, the stakes of Metreweli's mandate are not just the effectiveness of British espionage but also the recovery of a part of the UK's self-respect.