Top British spies briefed Merkel on Isis threat
Deborah Haynes Defence Editor
Last updated at 12:01AM, December 24 2015
Britain’s senior spies have briefed Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, on the threat posed by Islamic State in a rare exchange of intelligence, The Times has learnt.
The German leader, in return, shared information with the heads of MI5, MI6 and GCHQ on President Putin, the unrest in Ukraine and the situation in Crimea.
The secret briefing took place with David Cameron when he hosted Mrs Merkel at Chequers during her visit to Britain in October.
Germany is not a member of the “five eyes” intelligence sharing community, which comprises the UK, US, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.