John Sawers
British diplomat and former chief of the Secret Intelligence Service, MI6. He has held senior diplomatic and national-security roles, including serving as the United Kingdom's Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
Top 5 podcasts with John Sawers
Ranked by the Snipd community
34 snips
Sep 10, 2026 • 33min
The world at war
Kim Ghattas, Lebanese-American journalist and author of Black Wave; Tom Tugendhat, former British security minister; and Sir John Sawers, ex-MI6 chief, examine a world under pressure. They connect the wars in Ukraine, the Middle East and Sudan with tensions over Taiwan. The discussion explores Iran’s strain, Britain’s security and energy risks, Europe’s defence future, nuclear choices and the difficult paths toward ceasefires and lasting peace.
30 snips
Apr 2, 2026 • 40min
Inside The Room - The Libya Conflict: The Build Up (Part One)
Hugh Powell, former deputy national security adviser with frontline Whitehall experience, and Sir John Sawers, ex-MI6 chief with insider intelligence knowledge, recount the lead-up to Libya intervention. They discuss how protests spread, UK and European debates over action, military limits like no-fly zone effectiveness, and the surprise of French early strikes.
11 snips
Mar 31, 2024 • 1h 11min
67. A Tale of Two Spies: The former heads of MI5 and MI6 on the Iraq War, double agents, and the IRA
Former heads of MI5 and MI6, Eliza Manningham-Buller and John Sawers, discuss the ethics of intelligence work, evolving terrorism threats, challenges in handling covert sources, the courage of informants, Russian interference in elections, and navigating global challenges like climate change. They reflect on legal compliance in British intelligence and propose updates to governance principles.
5 snips
Jul 4, 2024 • 27min
Who are the Middle East power brokers?
Former head of MI6, John Sawers, discusses the Israel-Hamas conflict and prospects for peace in Gaza. Topics include regional power dynamics, Iran's nuclear progress, challenges faced by the Iranian regime, political dynamics in Egypt and Turkey, and the need for a political process in the Middle East.
Apr 6, 2026 • 35min
Inside The Room - The Libya Conflict: The Campaign (Part Two)
Sir John Sawers, former head of MI6 and senior British diplomat, shares first-hand intelligence stories from the 2011 Libya campaign. He recounts securing Musa Kusa’s defection and secret debriefs at secure locations. The discussion covers how MI6 mapped forces, back-channel negotiations with Gaddafi, and the political oversight of targeting during the fall of Tripoli.
