The Intelligence from The Economist For her eyes only: a new boss at MI6
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Sep 5, 2025 
Shashank Joshi, The Economist's defense editor, Vijay Vaiteswaran, the energy editor, and Anne Rowe, the obituaries editor, delve into the challenges facing MI6 as it welcomes its first female chief. They discuss how technology complicates spycraft amid rising geopolitical tensions with Russia and China. The conversation also explores the emergence of optimism in the nuclear energy sector, driven by new policies and innovations. Plus, hear uplifting stories of women battling for rights under the Taliban and a tech pioneer breaking barriers.
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Generational Shift At MI6
- Blaise Metroelli represents a generational shift at MI6 as a career officer who joined after the Cold War.
- Her operational background and tech roles signal MI6 prioritises field tradecraft blended with technical capability.
Too Many Threats, Too Few Resources
- MI6 must juggle major state threats from Russia and China alongside proliferation and emerging-tech monitoring.
- A mid-sized service faces hard prioritisation because budgets can't cover every simultaneous global demand.
Espionage Plus Disruption
- MI6 blends classic human intelligence collection with 'disruption' operations that actively make things happen abroad.
- Such disruption can include sabotaging procurement or sowing division inside adversary forces.