Former MI6 Chief Richard Moore on China, Putin and Spycraft | The Mishal Husain Show

Video Description

For nearly 40 years, Richard Moore was a career spy in the UK's secret intelligence service. He was unable to tell all but his closest friends and family what he did for a living. When he was appointed chief of MI6 in 2020, that changed: The name of the person in the agency's top job is the only one made public. In his first interview since leaving the role in Sept. 2025, Moore talks to The Mishal Husain Show about managing China's security threat, the psychology of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and why spies shouldn’t expect recognition. 00:00 Introduction by Mishal Husain 01:15 “I certainly haven’t left the world in a better place than I found it” 03:05 Is China the major intelligence challenge of the 21st century? 03:57 China as an “opportunity and a threat” 06:11 UK’s China spy scandal 08:44 China should “get their embassy” in London 09:33 Getting the “tap on the shoulder” at Oxford University 13:20 Keeping the truth from friends and family 14:00 Telling your children you’re a spy 16:26 What is spycraft really like? 17:09 Do James Bond and Slow Horses get it right? 19:52 Do you end up being suspicious of everyone? 22:39 Intelligence work post-9/11 27:16 Working with the US and the Trump administration 29:21 “Putin has no intention of doing a deal” 36:25 Strikes on Venezuela 42:45 Life on the outside You can find the written version of this interview with Mishal’s notes on Bloomberg Weekend: www.bloomberg.com/latest/weekend-interview Contact The Mishal Husain Show [email protected] Visit https://www.bloomberg.com/mishal Subscribe to Bloomberg Podcasts: https://bit.ly/BloombergPodcasts Visit us: https://www.bloomberg.com/podcasts For coverage on news, markets and more: http://www.bloomberg.com/video Watch Bloomberg Vodcasts: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe4PRejZgr0MS0Tqk_zQl1LVVTdWuH2Di Visit our other YouTube channels: Bloomberg Television: https://www.youtube.com/@markets Bloomberg Originals: https://www.youtube.com/bloomberg For coverage on news, markets and more: http://www.bloomberg.com/video