The world’s top intelligence officials have held a characteristically secret meeting in Singapore.

Senior officials from dozens of major intelligence agencies convened in a confidential gathering on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue security meeting in Singapore, according to sources speaking to Reuters. 

The secret meeting, organised by the Singapore government and held separately from the security summit, has allegedly been taking place discreetly for several years, but has not been previously reported.

Representatives from various countries attended, including the United States, represented by Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, despite ongoing tensions between the U.S. and China. Australian authorities are believed to have attended. 

India's head of overseas intelligence gathering agency, Samant Goel, also participated. 

The purpose of the meeting is to foster a deeper understanding of intentions and establish boundaries, as one insider claimed: “Given the range of countries involved, it is not a festival of tradecraft, but rather a way of promoting a deeper understanding of intentions and bottom lines”. 

The Singapore Ministry of Defence has acknowledged the occurrence of such meetings, stating that participants find them beneficial for bilateral and multilateral discussions.

While specific details of the Singapore discussions remain scarce, sources alleged that topics such as Russia's war in Ukraine and transnational crime were addressed. 

The meeting was described as collaborative and cooperative rather than confrontational. 

Notably, no Russian representative was present, and Ukraine's deputy defence minister, Volodymr V Havrylov, has confirmed his nonattendance at the intelligence meeting.

The Shangri-La Dialogue itself saw over 600 delegates from 49 countries engage in plenary sessions, closed-door bilateral and multilateral meetings, and keynote addresses from various leaders, including Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.