In a week marked by heightened vigilance against foreign espionage, authorities in both Greece and France have apprehended suspects in distinct cases involving the alleged transmission of classified military information to China. These separate investigations underscore a growing concern among European nations regarding intelligence gathering efforts targeting sensitive defense technologies and strategic communications. While the incidents unfolded independently, their proximity in time suggests a broader landscape of persistent intelligence threats.
Greek military officials confirmed the arrest of a colonel on Thursday, accused of providing both classified and top-secret data to Chinese entities. The officer, stationed within a military camp, reportedly had access to a range of information, including details on new Armed Forces technologies currently under development. Investigators believe the officer used electronic means from within his unit to transmit this sensitive material. Indications also suggest attempts by the colonel to recruit others into an intelligence network, raising questions about the potential scale of the alleged operation. The Hellenic Defence Ministry highlighted “clear indications of the commission of criminal offences under the Military Criminal Code,” specifically citing the collection and transmission of military secrets that could harm national interests.
Further details emerging from Greek media, including Kathimerini, indicate that the arrested colonel commanded a training battalion focused on telecommunications and electronic systems. His posting at an Air Force unit in Kavouri provided him access to classified information not only from various branches of the Greek military but also from allied nations. Reports suggest a sophisticated method of data transfer, involving a “special machine with software” allegedly supplied by Chinese authorities. This device was purportedly used to photograph classified documents and send them to recipients. Following his arrest, the officer reportedly confessed, detailing recruitment by a Chinese official, possibly during an overseas conference, and admitting to sending information in exchange for payment. The initial lead in this case dates back approximately two months, when the CIA reportedly notified Greece’s National Intelligence Service about a Greek Armed Forces member leaking sensitive NATO-related information to China, a detail that has drawn considerable interest from NATO allies, particularly the United States.
Concurrently, French authorities have charged four individuals, including two Chinese nationals, in connection with the suspected interception of sensitive military data. The arrests occurred over the weekend in southwestern Gironde, where the two Chinese suspects had reportedly rented Airbnb apartments, allegedly as part of a scheme to collect military intelligence and other sensitive information. The unusual installation of a two-meter diameter satellite dish on January 30, coinciding with a local internet outage, first drew attention. Subsequent investigation uncovered a “system of computers connected to satellite dishes” capable of recording satellite data. French authorities surmise that this setup could have intercepted communications between military entities.
The focus of the French investigation centers on the alleged “handing over information to a foreign power” that could jeopardize key national interests, an offense carrying a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison. Reports suggest the two Chinese nationals traveled to France with the explicit aim of collecting data from the Starlink satellite internet system and other “vital entities,” with the intention of transmitting it to China. Two of the suspects were taken into custody, while the other two were placed under judicial supervision, arrested for allegedly illegally importing the equipment used in the operation. Both Greek and French authorities are now working to determine the extent of the transmitted material, the specific nature of the information compromised, the exact identities of the recipients, and whether these incidents are part of larger, coordinated intelligence networks.
