For this first episode of L’Etat-Major, the new L’Express podcast devoted to defense issues, it seemed essential to talk about Donald Trump, who since his victory last November has again become the president of the leading world power, the States -United. Since then, the appointments have continued with, among the key positions, that of the Directorate of National Intelligence (DNI), entrusted to Tulsi Gabbard. She is 43 years old, has long black hair with a large white streak and she has an atypical background. She served in the U.S. Army, then served in the House of Representatives as a Democrat.
The first federal elected official with Hinduism as a religion, this Hawaiian has other particularities, such as her conspiratorial sympathies for two tyrants: the Syrian Bashar al-Assad, whom she visited – and whose regime we know fell recently – , and the Russian Vladimir Putin. Like DNI, if her appointment is confirmed in Congress, Tulsi Gabbard will have to brief the president on a daily basis on the missions and results of the services. She will also have to ensure that he cooperates as best as possible. But his real task is elsewhere: to bring his services into line. Donald Trump has no confidence in American spies. He is counting on this fervent Trumpist to do what he wants. The world of American intelligence is about to experience profound turbulence.
To talk about the Trump administration and espionage, Clément Daniez receives one of the best intelligence specialists among French academics. Sébastien-Yves Laurent teaches at Sciences Po Saint-Germain-en-Laye and received the Intelligence Academy prize for his book Secret state, clandestine state, essay on democratic transparency, published by Gallimard. A work which focuses on developments in the American, French and British services.
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The team: Clément Daniez (presentation and writing), Jules Krot (editing and production)
Logo: Jérémy Cambour and Adrien Levieux
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To go further:
Sébastien-Yves Laurent: “States rely more and more on their intelligence services”
“The CIA spies on France as much as the KGB”: behind the scenes of the intelligence archives
Secret missions, meeting with Putin… Investigation into the very influential boss of the CIA