Shadow Diplomats

The Real World James Bond Villains

Oct 24, 2023

Growing up as a kid, I loved James Bond movies as much as the leading ladies loved the man himself. The clothes, the cars, the fake passports and the gadgets, I wanted it too. Every kid imagines being a superspy jetting around the world, dodging bullets and taking down evil masterminds. Little did I know, in a world where cloak-and-dagger escapades of James Bond thrill audiences on screen, a more sinister cabal operates in the shadows.

Our story begins, fittingly, with a secret meeting in a hotel casino in the Korofi Republic's capital, Dunasi. The players: a dozen men gathered around a blackjack table, cognacs in hand, as clouds of cigar smoke waft overhead. Among them sits Dr. Ballantine Quaye, the Korofi Republic's honorary consul to the Principality of Moldavia, his diamond cufflinks glinting as he leans in to speak to the man beside him, Kweku Ackon, an international arms broker.

"I can get the defense contracts approved, fast track any deals," Quaye says in a hushed tone. “For the right price, of course."
Ackon takes a drag of his cigar, then stubs it out in an ashtray. "I may have some interested clients from Libya and Chad. We'll be in touch."
The two men shake hands and the gathering disperses out of the room. So begins the caper of diplomacy and deception.

These shadow diplomats engage in a clandestine dance that undermines the very fabric of international diplomacy. Like the fictitious operatives of SPECTRE, they steal state secrets, sow discord amongst nations and engage in economic espionage. It is a far-reaching tango of repressive regimes, money laundering, human trafficking, fake passports, and of course diamonds, which are forever smuggled. The difference here is that there isn’t just one criminal mastermind, but a casino of many. The above story is fake, but the types of conversations had in back rooms are very real.

License to Conceal and Steal

In the realm of geopolitics, the title of Honorary Consul was once revered, serving as a conduit of goodwill between nations. It used to bear the mark of honour and responsibility, much like the distinguished '00' status in Her Majesty's Secret Service. However, it has become a bridge to corruption and crime. Honorary consuls are private citizens appointed by governments to serve as volunteer diplomats around the world. The position comes with privileges like visa-free travel and exemptions from searches of consular bags. It is these privileges that have led to widespread abuse as in the case of the honorary consul for Italy in Egypt. He was arrested in Italy for allegedly trafficking artifacts stolen from Egypt. These consular appointments may be handed out as political favors, or sold to the highest bidder.

Over several years, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) unearthed a disturbing narrative. Similar to the dogged determination of Bond in unmasking SPECTRE’s operatives, ICIJ journalists revealed a cadre of honorary consuls embroiled in a saga of crimes, scandals, and ruthless geopolitical machinations through meticulous investigation.

Much like the stolen Faberge Egg in Octopussy, schemes to recover smuggled antiquities read like 007’s daily mission reports to MI6:

The honorary consul for South Sudan in Lebanon – arrested for alleged human trafficking and assault of domestic workers at his home.
The honorary consul for Lebanon in Angola – accused of various financial crimes related to a diamond mining operation in Angola.
The honorary consul for Gambia in Lebanon – designated by the US government for alleged ties to money laundering and drug trafficking operations.
Source: ICIJ

"James, it looks like the world outside the cinema is giving our screenwriters a run for their money. Better sharpen your skills; we've got real-world villains who've taken a page from SPECTRE's playbook." –Moneypenny

M, had she existed in real life, would have had the living daylights scared out of her. It’s not easy being tasked with the odd job of bringing down a decentralized network of pseudo spies.

Tailored to a Kill

Some of these shadow diplomats are true villains, except they don’t reside in lavish lairs carved out of volcanos. They are also not guarded by sharks with laser beams or assassins with bowler hats but wield tremendous influence. While these unseen adversaries may wear tailored suits, instead of having a license to kill, their license to commit crimes against society stems from their red-coloured diplomatic passports. These documents allow them to escape arrest and criminal charges through improperly invoked diplomatic immunity. Honorary consuls are supposed to focus on cultural and economic ties but instead engage in politics and under-the-table dealings.

While 007 navigates through the dark underbelly of espionage, battling foes hell-bent on world domination, these shadow diplomats engage in a nefarious game of power and deceit. There was a case in Ghana, where an arms broker orchestrated illicit arms deals with Hezbollah under the guise of diplomacy to transfer millions of dollars in missiles and grenades for use against American forces.

From Russia, With Subterfuge

During the icy chill of the Cold War, Bond thwarted Soviet plots. Now, today’s shadow diplomacy sees Russia deploying its legion of honorary consuls to spread pro-Kremlin sentiment globally. The scene in Montenegro, where an honorary consul stirred political unrest by promoting the War in Ukraine, echoes the cinematic tales of Soviet agents seeking to destabilize the West. Russia, embodying the essence of a Fleming antagonist, leverages this shadow network to further its geopolitical chess game. For this former Soviet-bloc republic, honorary consuls are a gift to the geopolitical scene from Russia, with love.

The lack of transparency and regulation surrounding these honorary consuls mirrors the elusive nature of SPECTRE. Much like Q’s gadgets, the ICIJ’s Transparency Index and Pandora Papers shines a light on this murky world. It reveals a narrative that could rival GoldenEye, including chilling escapades to cover up the theft of billions in electronic funds via shady networks of offshore companies, private foundations and trusts.

You Only Break Laws Twice

As 007’s battles against malevolent forces often reflect the jaws of larger geopolitical tensions, the tale of shadow diplomats unravels a sinister plot against the backdrop of global diplomacy. The threats posed by this rogue diplomacy jeopardize the rule of law and international relations. They have abused the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations by smuggling contraband in their diplomatic pouches and claiming immunity for activities unrelated to their official job.

The world’s stage now beckons for a hero to take on the modern day SPECTRE. We need someone to delve into the heart of this shadowy realm, and advocate for stringent regulations and international agreements to thwart the ambitions of these real-world villains. It is these rogue operatives that attempt to establish a new world order of for-profit diplomacy through smuggling, extortion and the odd assassination in order to destabilize nations and increase their own power. The saga of shadow diplomacy challenges nations to act, lest the world descends into a narrative scripted for chaos.

As audiences revel in the fictional exploits of James Bond, the narrative of shadow diplomacy unfolds in a realm where fiction meets reality. These rogue consuls can destabilize regional politics, especially in vulnerable nations lacking resources or transparency. The call for action urges the global community to confront this clandestine menace in order to restore the integrity of diplomacy. Hopefully, we can find a quantum of solace in this endeavour.

The world has had enough.

It's time to restore the rules of the game, before the game plays us.