Belgian authorities arrest Canadian NATO intern for spying

Belgian authorities announced on Saturday, July 25, 2026, the arrest of a Canadian intern at NATO's military headquarters on suspicion of espionage for a foreign country. The woman, a Canadian citizen of Chinese origin, was taken into custody on Friday, July 24, following raids on her home and workplace the previous day.

The Belgian Federal Prosecutor's Office stated the intern is suspected of spying on behalf of a third country and of being a member of a criminal organization. The prosecutor's statement did not identify the country for which she is alleged to have spied. The investigation was initiated after security services at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) near Mons, Belgium, raised suspicions about the individual. The case was subsequently referred to Belgian military intelligence and federal police.

SHAPE is NATO's strategic military headquarters, responsible for planning, conducting, and executing the alliance's military operations. A spokesperson for SHAPE stated that there is no indication the incident has adversely affected NATO's operational readiness, command and control arrangements, or ongoing tasks. The headquarters continues to fulfill its...