Belgian authorities have arrested a Canadian woman of Chinese origin on suspicion of espionage while she was serving as an intern at NATO’s military headquarters, triggering a security investigation within the Alliance.
Belgium’s Federal Prosecutor’s Office said the investigation was launched after receiving intelligence from NATO’s security services, leading to searches of the suspect’s home and workplace at NATO headquarters.
“The suspect is believed to have been spying on behalf of a third country and to have been a member of a criminal organization,” the prosecutor’s office said in a statement.
The woman was working as an intern at NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium, the Alliance’s strategic military command responsible for planning and executing NATO operations.
Belgian authorities have not disclosed the suspect’s identity or identified the third country she is alleged to have worked for.
According to media reports, the investigation was prompted by suspicious behavior, including lingering around NATO facilities and asking unusual questions.
The Federal Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that the suspect has been ordered into pre-trial detention for one month while the investigation continues.
According to SHAPE’s official guidelines, security clearances for interns are the responsibility of their sponsoring NATO member state. In this case, Canada was responsible for conducting the security screening.
The SHAPE website notes that obtaining a security clearance can take anywhere from eight weeks to 18 months, depending on national procedures, and that the vetting process begins only after a candidate has been selected.
A spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada confirmed that the Canadian government is responsible for granting, denying, or revoking security clearances for Canadians employed by international organizations, based on security assessments conducted by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS).
A NATO spokesperson said the Alliance “remains fully committed to protecting Allied personnel, safeguarding classified information, and maintaining the trust and security upon which the Alliance depends.”
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) confirmed it is assisting Belgian law enforcement authorities but declined to provide additional details. Meanwhile, Canada’s Minister of Public Safety, Gary Anandasangaree, said the government would review the security screening process and ensure a thorough investigation into the incident.
