According to BBC Security Correspondent Frank Gardner, modern-day spies are more likely to be women, come from various backgrounds, and even have lawyers assist them in planning operations.
The world of espionage nowadays, according to Gardner, is far more diversified and has moved on from the days of Roger Moore-era James Bond-type spying. At the Buxton Literary Festival, he gave a speech about his most recent book, Invasion, which details a fictional account of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.
In previous books, secret agent Luke Carlton encountered obstacles to his mission that are prevalent in the modern era, such as the need to bring a lawyer to Columbia. In 2004, MI6 got itself into a severe situation due to its involvement in the unlawful rendition of Abdul Hakim Belhaj, a Libyan dissident, by the Gaddafi dictatorship. As a result, UK spooks (spies) began to hire attorneys.
In today’s world, it is essential to obtain legal approval for any operation before it is even discussed, with attorneys present to offer their early opinions.
Gardner went on to discuss other present dangers to international security, such as China’s “clever” position at the vanguard of global technological growth, which would make economic sanctions against the West more difficult to implement. He went on to say that Western European states would be unprepared to handle a conflict on the continent due to a lack of defense funding and that a Trump presidency may pull the rug out from under Ukraine.
According to Gardner, Russia’s military industry spends about 7-8% of GDP producing inexpensive weapons that are not particularly good but can overwhelm the Ukrainians. As a result, the country’s economy is in a vulnerable state. He thinks that the fact that Britain spends 2.3% of its GDP on defense is a significant concern for many individuals involved with security, defense, and foreign affairs.
