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NATO SHAPE intern arrested
Belgian authorities arrested a Canadian woman of Chinese origin who was an intern at NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons on suspicion of espionage.
“She is suspected of spying on behalf of a third country and of being a member of a criminal organization”
Belgium’s Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office said the suspect was “a Canadian national of Chinese origin,” and that she is suspected of “spying on behalf of a third country and of being a member of a criminal organization.”
Public Safety Canada said the arrest was “related to an ongoing criminal investigation,” and it did not disclose the suspect’s identity or which “third country” she is alleged to have been spying for.
The Globe and Mail reported that officers searched the suspect’s home and place of work inside NATO’s command centre on Thursday, and the suspect was arrested the next day after the matter was referred to the federal prosecutor’s office.
SHAPE says operations unaffected
A SHAPE spokesperson, Col. Martin O’Donnell, said there is no indication that NATO or SHAPE operational readiness, command and control arrangements, or ongoing tasks have been adversely affected, adding “SHAPE continues to fulfill its responsibilities without interruption.”
CBC reported that Public Safety Canada told it, “As the matter remains under investigation, we are not in a position to comment on specifics at this time,” while the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office declined to name the suspect or provide more details.
The Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office said the suspect had come to the attention of SHAPE’s security services, which reported their concerns to the country’s military intelligence agency, before the matter was referred to the federal prosecutor’s office.
Investigators searched the suspect’s home and her workplace at SHAPE, and she was placed under arrest on Friday, according to CBC’s account of the Belgian prosecutors’ statement.
Classified access and vetting
The arrest has focused attention on SHAPE’s role as NATO’s principal military headquarters in Mons, where Allied Command Operations is responsible for planning and carrying out all operations of the 32-member transatlantic security alliance.
“happened inside its most sensitive command facility”
The Tech Times framed the case as an access-channel issue inside NATO’s command facility, writing that the arrest “happened inside its most sensitive command facility,” and that SHAPE’s own security services discovered it through monitoring.
The Tech Times also described a vetting gap, stating “NATO does not vet its own personnel,” and said national security authorities in each NATO member state are responsible for vetting their nationals before they are granted a Personnel Security Clearance valid for NATO access.
While NATO officials said there was “no indication” that operational readiness or ongoing tasks had been affected, the Belgian prosecutor’s office said it would make no further comment as investigations continued.
