Difference between revisions of "The Global Strategy Network"

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[[Richard Barrett]] CMG OBE (born 14 June 1949) is a former British diplomat and intelligence officer. He served in MI5, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and MI6, and was director of global counter-terrorism operations at MI6 both before and after the 11 September 2001 attacks. From 2004 to 2013 he coordinated the UN Monitoring Team concerning al-Qaeda and the Taliban and helped establish the UN Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force. He founded TGSN in 2016 and resigned as director in June 2021. Critical reporting has noted his proximity to UK extraordinary-rendition practices during his MI6 tenure and his subsequent role leading TGSN’s Syria information operations.<ref name="Wiki">Wikipedia, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Barrett_(counter-terrorism_expert) Richard Barrett (counter-terrorism expert)] ''Wikipedia'', accessed 10 October 2026.</ref><ref name="DefendDemocracy">Defend Democracy Press, [https://www.defenddemocracy.press/leaked-docs-reveal-senior-mi6-operative-implicated-in-torture-led-british-propaganda-efforts-in-syria/ Leaked docs reveal senior MI6 operative…] ''Defend Democracy Press'', 10 July 2021.</ref>
 
[[Richard Barrett]] CMG OBE (born 14 June 1949) is a former British diplomat and intelligence officer. He served in MI5, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and MI6, and was director of global counter-terrorism operations at MI6 both before and after the 11 September 2001 attacks. From 2004 to 2013 he coordinated the UN Monitoring Team concerning al-Qaeda and the Taliban and helped establish the UN Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force. He founded TGSN in 2016 and resigned as director in June 2021. Critical reporting has noted his proximity to UK extraordinary-rendition practices during his MI6 tenure and his subsequent role leading TGSN’s Syria information operations.<ref name="Wiki">Wikipedia, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Barrett_(counter-terrorism_expert) Richard Barrett (counter-terrorism expert)] ''Wikipedia'', accessed 10 October 2026.</ref><ref name="DefendDemocracy">Defend Democracy Press, [https://www.defenddemocracy.press/leaked-docs-reveal-senior-mi6-operative-implicated-in-torture-led-british-propaganda-efforts-in-syria/ Leaked docs reveal senior MI6 operative…] ''Defend Democracy Press'', 10 July 2021.</ref>
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== CSSF Framework 2023–27 and published CSSF awards ==
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[[The Global Strategy Network]] is one of the named suppliers appointed to the [[Conflict, Stability and Security Fund]] Framework Agreement (2023–2027) let by the [[Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office]], on Lots 1 and 3. The framework, procured under the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011, serves a fund described in the award notice as having "an annual budget in the region of 867 000 000 GBP"; the names of the 37 suppliers appointed to Lot 2 (counter-terrorism, countering violent extremism and strategic communications) were "redacted on National Security grounds".<ref name="FTS2023">Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, [https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/029743-2023 Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) Framework Agreement (2023-2027): contract award notice 029743-2023] ''Find a Tender Service'', 2023.</ref>
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Searches of [[Contracts Finder]] for notices mentioning the CSSF return 1 published award(s) to the firm with a combined stated value of £489,600. This is a minimum: many CSSF call-offs, especially under Lot 2, are not published.
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{| class="wikitable sortable"
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|+ CSSF awards published on Contracts Finder
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! Award date !! Contract !! Value (£) !! Supplier name as published !! Source
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|-
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| 2023-06-21 || CSSF: Global Coalition against Daesh Analysis || 489,600 || The Global Strategy Network || <ref>Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, [https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/4e29447e-a220-4e17-ab14-5e0205c17f67 CSSF: Global Coalition against Daesh Analysis] ''Contracts Finder'', 2023-06-21.</ref>
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|}
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=== Companies House officers ===
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{| class="wikitable sortable"
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|+ Officers recorded at Companies House
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! Name !! Role !! Appointed !! Resigned
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|-
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| [[Giles Henry Donne Barrett]] || Director || 6 April 2023 || –
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|-
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| [[Richard Barrett]] || Director || 18 October 2016 || 24 June 2021
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|-
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| [[Matthew Thomas King]] || Director || 24 June 2021 || 30 May 2024
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|}
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<ref name="CH10433562">Companies House, [https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/10433562/officers THE GLOBAL STRATEGY NETWORK LTD (10433562): officers] ''Companies House'', accessed 16 October 2026.</ref>
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== See also ==
 
== See also ==
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[[Category:Syria|Global Strategy Network]]
 
[[Category:Syria|Global Strategy Network]]
 
[[Category:UK|Global Strategy Network]]
 
[[Category:UK|Global Strategy Network]]
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[[Category:Counter-Terrorism Industry]]
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[[Category:CSSF Contractors]]

Revision as of 17:10, 16 October 2026

London-based consultancy founded by former MI6 director of global counter-terrorism Richard Barrett; delivered UK/US-funded strategic communications and media platforms in Syria


The Global Strategy Network

Type Consultancy
Founded 2016
Founder(s) Richard Barrett
Status Active
Headquarters 27 Old Gloucester Street, London WC1N 3AX
Services Strategic communications; media platform development and mentoring; research, monitoring, evaluation and learning; data analytics (including ExTrac); CVE programming
Key people Richard Barrett (founder and former director); Giles Henry Donne Barrett (current director)
Website tgsn.co
Remarks Company number 10433562; led consortium delivering high-impact strategic communications programmes for UK and US governments across Syria; created and funded platforms including SY24, SY+ and the Revolutionary Forces of Syria Media Office


The Global Strategy Network (TGSN) is a London-based consultancy founded in 2016 by Richard Barrett, former director of global counter-terrorism operations at MI6. It specialises in strategic communications, research, data analytics and programming on disinformation, violent extremism and stabilisation in fragile contexts. TGSN led consortia delivering UK- and US-funded strategic-communications and social-cohesion programmes across Syria, working closely with ARK Group. Leaked documents show it overseeing large media networks and platforms including SY24, SY+ and the Revolutionary Forces of Syria Media Office (RFS).[1][2]

Company details

The Global Strategy Network Ltd (company number 10433562) was incorporated in 2016. Directors have included Richard Barrett (appointed 18 October 2016, resigned 24 June 2021; date of birth June 1949), Matthew Thomas King (appointed 24 June 2021, resigned 30 May 2024) and Giles Henry Donne Barrett (appointed 6 April 2023; date of birth January 1980). The registered office is at 27 Old Gloucester Street, London WC1N 3AX. The firm describes itself as combining technology, communications, research and development, with a team drawn from multiple countries.[1][3]

Syria programming

TGSN led a consortium with over six years’ experience delivering high-impact strategic-communications and social-cohesion programmes for the UK and US governments across Syria, including the Northeast and Northwest. It worked closely with ARK Group and other contractors. A September 2020 Grayzone investigation based on leaked UK Foreign Office documents described TGSN, directed by Barrett, as one of several contractors bankrolled by the FCO to conduct information-warfare operations in Syria. Together with ARK it oversaw media assets inside the country that included 97 video stringers, 23 writers, 49 distributors, 23 photographers, 19 in-country trainers, eight training centres, three media offices and 32 research officers. TGSN developed the Revolutionary Forces of Syria Media Office (RFS), which offered substantial payments (one example cited was $17,000 per month to a journalist) for content production for Syrian rebels. The firm established and later mentored the SY24 and SY+ platforms (first funded under the CSSF “Syrian Voices” project); these were reported to have generated large followings and global coverage. TGSN has also conducted work on reintegration and social cohesion related to populations in camps such as Al Hol and Al Roj.[2][4][5]

The Grayzone reported that TGSN functioned as a PR firm for the Syrian armed opposition, crafting narratives and media content to support regime-change objectives, and that it boasted of constant contact with networks to push pro-opposition talking points. Both TGSN and ARK were contracted by the UK FCO and involved in multi-donor projects with the US and other Western governments. A later CSSF contract award (2023) of £489,600 was made to the Global Strategy Network to provide the Counter-Daesh Communications Cell with quantitative and qualitative analytical reporting on Daesh terrorism and associated terrorist communication.[2][6]

Richard Barrett

Richard Barrett CMG OBE (born 14 June 1949) is a former British diplomat and intelligence officer. He served in MI5, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and MI6, and was director of global counter-terrorism operations at MI6 both before and after the 11 September 2001 attacks. From 2004 to 2013 he coordinated the UN Monitoring Team concerning al-Qaeda and the Taliban and helped establish the UN Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force. He founded TGSN in 2016 and resigned as director in June 2021. Critical reporting has noted his proximity to UK extraordinary-rendition practices during his MI6 tenure and his subsequent role leading TGSN’s Syria information operations.[7][8]

CSSF Framework 2023–27 and published CSSF awards

The Global Strategy Network is one of the named suppliers appointed to the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund Framework Agreement (2023–2027) let by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, on Lots 1 and 3. The framework, procured under the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations 2011, serves a fund described in the award notice as having "an annual budget in the region of 867 000 000 GBP"; the names of the 37 suppliers appointed to Lot 2 (counter-terrorism, countering violent extremism and strategic communications) were "redacted on National Security grounds".[9]

Searches of Contracts Finder for notices mentioning the CSSF return 1 published award(s) to the firm with a combined stated value of £489,600. This is a minimum: many CSSF call-offs, especially under Lot 2, are not published.

CSSF awards published on Contracts Finder
Award date Contract Value (£) Supplier name as published Source
2023-06-21 CSSF: Global Coalition against Daesh Analysis 489,600 The Global Strategy Network [10]

Companies House officers

Officers recorded at Companies House
Name Role Appointed Resigned
Giles Henry Donne Barrett Director 6 April 2023 –
Richard Barrett Director 18 October 2016 24 June 2021
Matthew Thomas King Director 24 June 2021 30 May 2024

[11]


See also

External links

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Companies House, THE GLOBAL STRATEGY NETWORK LTD Companies House, accessed 10 October 2026.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Ben Norton, Leaked docs expose massive Syria propaganda operation waged by Western govt contractors and media The Grayzone, 23 September 2020.
  3. ↑ The Global Strategy Network, website TGSN, accessed 10 October 2026.
  4. ↑ Leaked TGSN methodology document (Sections 1.2–1.4), c. 2019–2020, archived via AppForest/S3.
  5. ↑ Consortium News / Transnational, Leaked docs expose massive Syria propaganda operation… The Transnational, 26 October 2020.
  6. ↑ Bidstats / Contracts Finder, “CSSF: Global Coalition Against Daesh Analysis,” award to Global Strategy Network, June 2023.
  7. ↑ Wikipedia, Richard Barrett (counter-terrorism expert) Wikipedia, accessed 10 October 2026.
  8. ↑ Defend Democracy Press, Leaked docs reveal senior MI6 operative… Defend Democracy Press, 10 July 2021.
  9. ↑ Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) Framework Agreement (2023-2027): contract award notice 029743-2023 Find a Tender Service, 2023.
  10. ↑ Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, CSSF: Global Coalition against Daesh Analysis Contracts Finder, 2023-06-21.
  11. ↑ Companies House, THE GLOBAL STRATEGY NETWORK LTD (10433562): officers Companies House, accessed 16 October 2026.
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