Spy scare at Nato headquarters: Canadian intern arrested in Belgium on espionage charges
A Canadian woman has been arrested in Belgium on suspicion of espionage while working as an intern at the operational headquarters of the Nato military
A Canadian woman has been arrested in Belgium on suspicion of espionage while working as an intern at the operational headquarters of the Nato military alliance, Belgian authorities said on Saturday.According to The Associated Press, Belgium's federal prosecutor's Office said the investigation was launched after Nato's security services alerted Belgian military intelligence to potential espionage concerns.Authorities said they searched the suspect's home and workplace inside Nato's military headquarters on Thursday before arresting her on Friday.The prosecutors said the woman, identified only as “a Canadian citizen of Chinese origin”, is under investigation for alleged links to a foreign state.“She is suspected of spying on behalf of a third country and of being a member of a criminal organisation,” the federal prosecutor's office said in a statement.The investigation centres on the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (Shape), Nato's operational military headquarters in Mons, Belgium, where military officials oversee joint planning, strategy and operational command for the alliance.The alliance's political headquarters remains in Brussels, where ambassadors from the 32 member states regularly meet to discuss defence policy, cyber threats, military spending and regional security.Nato's cyber security centre is also based at Shape.Despite the arrest, Nato officials said there had been no disruption to military operations.“At this time, there is no indication that Nato or Shape operational readiness, command and control arrangements, or ongoing tasks have been adversely affected.
Shape continues to fulfil its responsibilities without interruption,” Colonel Martin L O'Donnell, spokesperson for Shape, told AP.The case comes against the backdrop of growing security concerns surrounding China. Nato leaders have previously described Beijing as presenting “systemic challenges to the rules-based international order and
to areas relevant to alliance security”, citing concerns over military expansion, cyber threats and disinformation campaigns.China has consistently rejected those allegations, maintaining that its military development is defensive in nature.The arrest also comes as Nato faces renewed political pressure from US president Donald Trump,
who has urged European allies to increase defence spending, take a larger role in regional security and support military efforts against Iran.Belgian authorities have not disclosed the identity of the suspect or the country allegedly involved in the espionage investigation. The inquiry remains ongoing.
The BriefWire