For Gina Haspel, the first woman to lead the CIA, the movie that best reflects what a spy service is like is the adaptation of John le Carré's novel The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, which Tomas Alfredson released in 2011, starring Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch, and John Hurt. Haspel is not the only spy who holds the movie and Le Carré's classic in high regard. Bernard Émié, who was, at the same time as her, the head of the DGSE, the French equivalent of the CIA, shared the same opinion.
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold - whose original title is Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy - is set in the MI6, the British Intelligence service operating outside the country, similar to the CIA and the DGSE. The MI6 (without dashes) is the name commonly used for what is officially known as the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), which, for the first time in its 116-year history, will be led by a woman, Blaise Metreweli, as announced today by the UK Prime Minister's Office, Keir Starmer. Metreweli will take office on October 1, when the current director, Richard Moore, completes his five-year term.
Metreweli, with 26 years of experience in the British espionage world, is currently the head of technology and innovation at MI6. With her appointment, she prevailed over the other female finalist for the position, the ambassador to the United Nations and China, Barbara Woodward. She arrives at a very challenging time for British espionage, as the UK's major intelligence partner, the United States, is displaying openly hostile behavior towards Europe, including the UK.
One of her tasks will be to manage the Intelligence exchange program known as Five Eyes, consisting of five Anglo-Saxon (and white) powers: the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The leader of this agreement, thanks to its almost infinite resources, is the United States. However, since Donald Trump took office, rumors have multiplied about a possible US withdrawal from the Five Eyes, which would be a severe blow to the international projection of British espionage.
One of the key aspects of The Spy Who Came in from the Cold is how the Soviet Union exploits the British obsession with getting along with the US to infiltrate a double agent. This, and something not often seen in spy movies: bureaucratic fights and egos. Not surprisingly, its author, John le Carré, was a spy for MI6 until the defection to Moscow of the mother of all moles, Kim Philby, exposed his activities to the USSR.
MI6 has always cultivated a unique mythology based on the alleged personal and professional skills of its officers, often recruited from Oxford and Cambridge, cultured, well-traveled, and worldly-wise, contrasting with the Americans, more technology-based and lacking the worldly knowledge characteristic of their culture. Its most iconic figure is also a fictional character, James Bond. It is ironic that the world's most famous secret agent, whose movies traditionally feature stunningly beautiful and villainous women (with the exception of his secretary, Miss Moneypenny), will now be taking orders from a woman. Of course, James Bond has been acquired by Amazon, so starting this year, he works for the Americans. Another mole for Metreweli.