The private life of a senior Spanish officer serving at the NATO Allied Maritime Command in England has turned into a large-scale security investigation.
According to The Telegraph, the officer began a relationship with Janina White, whom he met on Tinder, in late 2024. Suspicions later arose that White, who was born in Soviet Russia and had British and Polish citizenship, might have ties to Russian intelligence.
Following the allegations, both NATO and Spanish authorities launched a security investigation.
The Spanish officer, whose name was not disclosed, was serving at the NATO Allied Maritime Command at Northwood Headquarters in Hertfordshire, England, at the time.
The center was monitoring the activities of Russian submarines and warships in British waters, as well as the "shadow fleet" tankers that Russia was allegedly using to circumvent sanctions.
It was stated that the officer, a father of two children, started a relationship with White shortly after he separated from his wife.
SECURITY AUTHORITY SUSPENDED
In the first half of 2025, security concerns were raised about the officer due to his relationship with White.
Separate security investigations were launched by NATO and Spain, according to court documents. Spanish authorities suspended the officer's national security clearance.
The commander of the Northwood base also canceled the officer's base pass after being informed of the investigation on June 19, 2025.
The Spanish officer's duty in NATO was terminated on July 29, 2025, and he later returned to Spain.
Janina White, 49, denied all the accusations against her.
White argued that he was discriminated against because of his Russian origin and said, "I know for sure that I am not a Russian spy."
White was never detained or arrested on espionage charges. It was stated that no investigation against him had concluded that he was an agent on behalf of Russia.
“THE RUSSIAN INTELLIGENCE OFFICER QUESTIONED ME”
According to White, another remarkable aspect of the incident occurred recently in Russia.
He went to St. Petersburg to visit his sick father. White, who said that he went to St. Petersburg, claimed that an intelligence officer named "Andrei", who he stated was from the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), interrogated him for about two hours in a cafe.
According to White, the Russian officer asked him questions about his ex-girlfriend's duty in NATO, the security investigation and how the relationship started.
White argued that he did not have detailed information about his ex-partner's business.
"We had a rule at home not to talk about his work," White said, adding that he only knew that his former partner was working on Russia's shadow fleet and submarines.
The relationship between White and the Spanish officer began in October 2024.
According to White, about two weeks after they met, they moved into a two-bedroom house in Ruislip, west London.
The couple then opened a joint bank account, made vacation plans and considered having children.
CHRISTMAS PARTY AT NATO BASE DRAWED ATTENTION
One of the events that stood out in the security investigation was White's attendance at the Christmas party held at the Northwood base in December 2024.
According to court documents, the Spanish officer obtained a one-day escorted visitor pass for White on December 12, 2024.
White attended the event held at the officer and petty officer social facility in Northwood.
In the first months of 2025, security concerns began to arise within NATO about the couple's relationship.
White also said he went to NATO naval headquarters in Oeiras, Portugal, with his former partner the day after his access to Northwood was revoked.
White claimed that he did not enter safe areas here and stated that he was only in common areas within the base.
"I was drinking coffee and tea by the pool. I never accessed the secret facilities," White said, adding that he stayed at the base for two days.
THEY TRIED TO RE-ENTER NORTHWOOD
The Spanish officer, White and a third person attempted to re-enter the Northwood base on Aug. 26, 2025, according to court documents.
It was stated that the officer said that he had lost his own card, even though his entry card had been suspended before, and that he requested a visitor card for the group.
Security guards did not allow the three men to enter the base.
Police were called after White refused to leave the area, but no arrests were made in the incident.
White argued that he was legally representing his ex-partner at the time and that they had only gone to the base to retrieve some personal items.
The Spanish officer claimed that the investigation had severe effects on both his career and his family.
In an email to British navy Vice Admiral Mike Utley, he argued that he had been subjected to "systematic social and professional isolation" following his 35-year military career.
The officer claimed that his colleagues excluded him and that even his children were alienated from the social environment by the children of other military families.
He stated that he was treated “like an unwanted stranger, not a colleague”.
WHITE STARTED A LEGAL FIGHT
White initiated judicial proceedings against the "negative security risk" assessment against him.
White, who filed a discrimination lawsuit against the British Ministry of Defense, argues that suspicions about him were raised only because he was born in Russia.
"The entire state machinery treated me as if I were an enemy. I want to know why and by whom this decision was made," White said.
NATO Allied Maritime Command Spokesperson Tim Pietrack stated that they do not comment on personal personnel matters.
Pietrack said NATO remains committed to the protection of allied personnel, the security of classified information and the maintenance of trust within the alliance.
The British Ministry of Defense stated that it would not be appropriate to comment on the issue due to ongoing legal processes.
Hertfordshire Police also confirmed that teams were called to the area due to the incident in Northwood, but no arrests were made.
