On 18 November 2015, the Centre for Political and Foreign Affairs (CPFA) in Paris hosted an event with Sir Richard Dearlove, former Chief of the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), moderated by Renaud Girard. Drawing on his long career in intelligence, including his leadership of MI6 between 1999 and 2004, Dearlove reflected on the challenges of modern security, the limits of intelligence, and the ways in which intelligence assessments influence foreign policy. His intervention provided a framework for understanding contemporary risks across the Middle East and their global repercussions.

The event gathered a diverse range of Syrian participants, ensuring that perspectives from the country most directly affected were well represented. Among them was Rami Abderrahmane, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Their contributions highlighted the human and political costs of the conflict, while also offering insights into the realities on the ground in Syria.

Also present was the French philosopher Raphaël Enthoven, reflecting CPFA’s commitment to bridging political, strategic, and intellectual perspectives. The dialogue addressed the Syrian conflict, broader Middle Eastern dynamics, Israel’s role in the region, and the complex interplay between intelligence, politics, and morality in times of crisis. By bringing together figures from intelligence, the Syrian opposition, and philosophy, the event provided a unique platform for multidisciplinary debate on one of the world’s most urgent conflicts.