Who is the new “C”, the chief of Mi6. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer considered the “historical” appointment
MI6 will be led by a woman for the first time in the 116 -year history of the Foreign Intelligence Service.
Blaise Metrewel, who joined the Secret Intelligence Service in 1999, will become the 18th chief of the organization and replace Sir Richard Moore at the end of this year.
Currently, she is responsible for technology and innovation in the service and has stated that she is “proud and honored” that she was asked to lead.
What does “C” do?
C is the head of MI6, officially known as the Secret Intelligence Service, and reports to the Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
C is also part of the common information committee, together with the heads of other departments and senior government officials. He receives information reports, analyzes the ongoing situations and advises the prime minister.
Where does the name “C” come from. It is wrong to believe that “C” means boss. It's not. The first spying agency of the United Kingdom was called the Bureau of Secret Services, established in the 1900s. It was led by an officer of the Royal Navy, Captain Mansfield Cumming. He always signed “c”, and the code name has remained.
Captain Cumming wrote with green ink. To this day, the MI6 chief is the only person in Whitehall who writes with green ink.
Does it give its agents a “license to kill”? Not. But the secretary of foreign can. In accordance with section 7 of the 1994 Intelligence Services Law, an MI6 agent may be authorized to perform certain actions that would otherwise be illegal – including use of lethal force. But it is a long and complicated legal process.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called the “historical” appointment
MI6 has the task of collecting information abroad to improve the security of the United Kingdom, its main objectives being to stop terrorism, to disrupt the activities of hostile states and to strengthen cyber security.
His boss, usually called “C”, is the only member of the publicly mentioned service.
Mrs. Metreweli, 47, is currently the general director “Q” – the head of the Crucial Technology and Innovation Division, which aims to keep secrets to the secret agents and find new ways to avoid opponents, such as biometric surveillance in China.
“MI6 plays a vital role – together with MI5 and GCHQ – in maintaining the safety of the British people and promoting the interests of the United Kingdom,” she said.
“I look forward to continuing this work with the brave officers and agents of my MI6 and our numerous international partners.”
Metreweli, who studied anthropology at the University of Cambridge, previously held leadership positions at the MI5-MI6's internal security agency-and spent most of the career working in the Middle East and Europe.
On the list of birthday honors abroad and internationally in 2024, it received the title of companion of Saint Michael and Saint George (CMG) for the services brought to British foreign policy.
In a statement granted to Telegraph in December 2021, when he worked at MI5, under the pseudonym “K”, Mrs. Metrewel said that threats to the national security of the United Kingdom “are indeed diverse”.
“The threats we are analyzing refer mainly to the protection of the government, the protection of the secrets, the protection of our people-so to the counter-assignment-the protection of our economy, the sensitive technology and the critical knowledge,” she said.
She added that “the activity of the Russian state – not Russia itself – remains a threat” and that China “changes the way the world works and this presents amazing opportunities and threats for the United Kingdom.”
The organization it will lead is facing multiple and unprecedented challenges.
From a geographical point of view, they come mainly from Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, because the four nations cooperate more and more closely to undermine the interests of the United Kingdom and the West around the world.
But there are also technical challenges.
The role of MI6 is to recruit human agents to steal secrets from the opponents of Great Britain, who include both hostile nations and non-state groups like Al-Qaeda.
In an era of fast digital innovation, MI6 has to accelerate more and more to stay a step before its enemies and to stay relevant, when so much information is now collected online and from space.
In September last year, the resignation chief Sir Richard-along with the CIA chief of then, William Burns-warned that the international world is “threatened in an unexpected way from the Cold War.”
In an article published in the Financial Times, the two stated that, beyond the Ukraine war, the two foreign information services continue to “work together to deactivate the reckless sabotage campaign in Europe, worn by Russian secret services.”
Sir Richard and Mr. Burns added that they considered China's ascension as the main geopolitical challenge and information of the century. They also said that they insisted “intense” on the retention and de -escalation of tensions in the Middle East.
On Sunday, Sir Richard, who will resign in the fall after five years in this position, said he was “absolutely delighted” by the “historical appointment” of his colleague.
“Blaise is a very talented information officer and one of our most important technology thinkers,” he said.
“I am delighted to welcome her as the first woman chief of Mi6.”
Foreign Secretary David Lammy, in front of which Mrs. Metrewel will be responsible as a new head of the M6, said that she is the “ideal” candidate and will ensure that the United Kingdom is able to approach the “global instability and emerging threats to security”.
“I would also like to pay tribute to Sir Richard Moore for his services and management,” he said.
“I have worked closely with him in the last year and thank him for his valuable contribution to strengthening our national security and protecting the British public.”
Sir Keir also pleased Sir Richard for his “dedicated services”.
“I know that Blaise will continue to offer the excellent leadership to defend us and keep our people safe,” he added.
