Britain caught in ‘space between peace and war’, says new head of MI6

The new head of MI6, Blaise Metreweli, stated that Britain is in "a space between peace and war" due to emerging technologies and a shifting global power dynamic. In her first public speech as head of the UK's international spy agency, Metreweli highlighted the increasing influence of corporations and individuals in controlling technologies like AI, potentially leading to new forms of conflict. She accused Russia of insincerity regarding Ukraine peace negotiations. Metreweli emphasized the need for MI6 to adapt to these technological advancements, including AI-powered weapons and disinformation, which are challenging the existing world order. She warned of the dangers of algorithms becoming as powerful as states and the weaponization of information. Metreweli took over as head of MI6 in September.

In her first public speech as head of MI6 on December 15, 2025, Blaise Metreweli warned of a growing and "acute" threat from Russia to Europe. Metreweli, the first woman to lead the British Secret Intelligence Service, stated that Russia is actively attempting to destabilize the West through hybrid attacks, including arson, sabotage, assassinations, cyber warfare, and disinformation campaigns. She emphasized that this "export of chaos" is a deliberate feature of Russia's international strategy. Metreweli stressed the need for intelligence agencies to adapt by embracing technology like AI and forging alliances within the tech industry. She highlighted the importance of MI6 agents becoming proficient in technology and computer programming to counter these threats effectively.