The relationship between a NATO officer and a woman he met on Tinder led to a security investigation

The relationship of a Spanish officer serving at the NATO naval command in England with a woman he met through the friendship and dating application Tinder caused a security investigation.

It was claimed that Janina White, who was born in the Soviet Union and had dual British-Polish citizenship, was spying on behalf of Russia.

While White denied the allegations, he claimed that he was discriminated against and labeled a "Russian spy" following investigations.

According to The Telegraph, the senior officer in the Spanish naval forces was serving at the Allied Maritime Command (Marcom) in Northwood, Hertfordshire, England.

The officer's duties included monitoring Russian submarines and warships operating in British waters and tracking sanctioned oil tankers linked to Vladimir Putin's stay-behind fleet.

The officer, who started having a relationship with Janina White in late 2024, was suspended from duty following the suspicions of Spanish and NATO security officials. British authorities later revoked the officer's Northwood pass and banned him from entering the base until security investigations were completed.

The Spanish officer was dismissed from his duty in the summer of 2025 and sent to Spain.

WHITE DENIES SPYING ALLEGATIONS

White, 49, who lives in the Romford district of London, flatly denied allegations that he was spying for Russia.

White said he was never arrested and investigations did not prove he was a foreign agent.

"I definitely know that I am not a Russian spy. Last time I checked, I wasn't," said White, who also talked about the incident that he claimed to have experienced during a visit to Russia.

White will return to St. Louis in September 2025 to visit his sick father. He said that he went to St. Petersburg, where a person he claimed was from the Russian Federal Security Service met with him.

Claiming that the person he identified as Andrei took him to a cafe and subjected him to a security investigation for about two hours, White stated that he was also asked questions about his relationship with the NATO officer.

"He asked if I knew anything about my ex-partner's job. I said no. We had a rule at home that he didn't talk about his job. He asked what our current relationship was like, but I said we weren't in contact," White said.

THEIR RELATIONSHIPS PROGRESSED IN A SHORT TIME

White stated that he met the Spanish officer, whose name was not disclosed, in October 2024 and that the relationship progressed in a short time.

White allegedly moved into the officer's London home about two weeks after they met.

Stating that their relationship reached a serious level in a short time, White said, "We opened a joint bank account and started making holiday plans and thinking about having a baby."

According to court documents, White attended a social event at the base on Dec. 12, 2024, with the Spanish officer. A one-day escorted visitor pass was issued for White upon entry to the base.

SECURITY INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN STARTED

In the first half of 2025, security concerns arose at Marcom due to the relationship between the Spanish officer and White.

"A security investigation has been launched in NATO and Spain," court documents said. The statement was included.

Northwood commander was notified of the investigation on June 19, 2025. Following this, the officer's base entry card was canceled "until the conclusion of security investigations."

White claimed that the officer was able to access NATO facilities even after his security card was revoked.

"I DID NOT HAVE ACCESS TO ANY SUPER SECRET FACILITIES"

White argued that he did not gain access to secure areas during his time at Northwood.

"We got on base and he was somewhere accessing super secure computers and data, while I was chilling by the pool drinking coffee and tea," White said. he said.

Claiming that he was "bored" during his visit to the base, White said, "I did not have access to any super-secret facilities." he said.