According to sources cited by Reuters, senior officials from around 20 intelligence services from around the world met secretly this weekend in Singapore. These meetings have been held for several years as part of the annual Asia-Pacific intergovernmental security conference, known as the ‘Shangri-La Dialogue’. Participants included Avril Haines, director of US National Intelligence; Samant Goel, head of India’s foreign intelligence; and a representative from China whose name and position were not disclosed. During the meeting, topics such as the conflict in Ukraine and transnational crime were discussed.
According to one of Reuters’ sources, this meeting is an important component of the parallel international agenda and is not simply a social event but a way to promote a deeper understanding of the intentions and objectives of each country involved.
A spokesperson from Singapore’s Ministry of Defense mentioned that during the Shangri-La Dialogue, participants, including senior officials from intelligence agencies, take the opportunity to meet with their counterparts. The Ministry of Defense may facilitate some of these bilateral or multilateral meetings, and participants find these meetings beneficial.
The US Embassy in Singapore stated that it had no information on this meeting, while Chinese and Indian officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In brief, senior intelligence officials from around the world met in Singapore in a secret meeting that is part of the annual security conference. Topics discussed included the conflict in Ukraine and transnational crime. Although there has been no official response from some authorities, such meetings are seen as valuable in promoting mutual understanding among participants.