According to five individuals who spoke to Reuters, a clandestine gathering took place over the weekend on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue security meeting in Singapore.

This secret meeting involved senior officials from approximately twenty intelligence agencies worldwide. For several years, the Singapore government has been organizing these meetings discreetly at a separate location alongside the security summit, an aspect that has not been previously disclosed.

The United States’ representation at the meeting came from Avril Haines, the Director of National Intelligence, who leads her country’s intelligence community, Reuters reported.

Notably, China was also among the participating countries, despite the existing tensions between the two global powers.

Additionally, Samant Goel, the head of India’s Research and Analysis Wing, which is responsible for overseas intelligence gathering, attended the meeting, according to an Indian source.

One person familiar with the discussions described the meeting as a significant event on the international covert agenda.

They emphasized that the gathering aimed to foster a deeper understanding of intentions and boundaries, rather than being solely focused on espionage tactics.

The involvement of various nations highlights the unspoken understanding among intelligence services that they can engage in dialogue when traditional diplomatic channels face challenges.

This factor assumes crucial importance during times of heightened tension, and the Singapore event plays a role in promoting such communication, as reported by Reuters.

Due to the sensitivity of the matter, all five sources who shared information about the secret meeting chose to remain anonymous.

Written by staff