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International Intelligence

The chapter discusses the history and current state of international intelligence cooperation. It outlines how cooperation has evolved from an initial focus on countering state threats during the Cold War to addressing new challenges like terrorism that transcend borders. While the need for intelligence sharing has increased, national interests still predominate. The chapter also examines intelligence relationships between the UK/US, Europe, and other parts of the world, emphasizing how partnerships have deepened due to shared threats, policies, and diplomatic efforts over time.

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Md. Shajahan Uddin
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32 views

International Intelligence

The chapter discusses the history and current state of international intelligence cooperation. It outlines how cooperation has evolved from an initial focus on countering state threats during the Cold War to addressing new challenges like terrorism that transcend borders. While the need for intelligence sharing has increased, national interests still predominate. The chapter also examines intelligence relationships between the UK/US, Europe, and other parts of the world, emphasizing how partnerships have deepened due to shared threats, policies, and diplomatic efforts over time.

Uploaded by

Md. Shajahan Uddin
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Chapter 11 : International intelligence co-operation : An inside perspective

Stephen Lander
The nature of international intelligence cooperation is inherently complex and often considered an
oxymoron due to the competitive and self-interested nature of individual state intelligence services.
The language used in legislation and government policies reflects the emphasis on national
security, defense, and foreign policies. The primary role of intelligence agencies is to support
government activities, often involving competitive or aggressive measures in international
relations.
The UK, USA Agreement, negotiated by Harry Hinsley in 1946, has been central to intelligence
cooperation between the United States and the United Kingdom, particularly in signals intelligence
(SIGINT) exchanges. However, there is a lack of accurate public information about intelligence
sharing, and the perspective of a former Security Service employee emphasizes the focus on
addressing security threats rather than intelligence as an opportunity.

The role of intelligence and government


Since the end of the Cold War, the dynamics of international intelligence cooperation have become
more complex and multifaceted, influenced by a variety of factors that both encourage and
challenge collaborative efforts. The dissolution of the Warsaw Pact and the Soviet Union reduced
the clear-cut adversarial lines that once defined global politics, leading to increased
competitiveness and divisions among former Western allies. This has created a scenario where
countries may simultaneously be allies on certain issues, such as terrorism and drug trafficking,
while remaining divided on others due to foreign policy tensions. The emergence of terrorism as
a global strategic threat, exemplified by groups like al-Qaeda with international goals, has
underscored the need for international intelligence cooperation. This new type of threat, which
transcends national borders, presents unique challenges for intelligence services in terms of
collaboration.
Additionally, the post-Cold War era has seen the advent of what can be termed "intelligence
diplomacy," where intelligence communities engage in diplomatic activities, highlighting a
recognition by governments of the value of leveraging intelligence relationships for diplomatic
purposes. This shift is partly due to intelligence agencies' increased relevance to daily government
concerns and the greater familiarity of government officials with intelligence work.
Comparing the pre- and post-Cold War intelligence focuses reveals a shift from traditional state-
centric threats to issues like international terrorism, drug trafficking, and weapons of mass
destruction, which have immediate implications for national security and public safety. This
evolution has led to a greater emphasis on intelligence cooperation which is driven not by politics
or sentiment but by utility and the pragmatic need to address shared global challenges effectively.
However, the inherently national orientation of intelligence services persists, emphasizing the
protection of national interests.
The United States
The historical and contemporary intelligence relationship between the United Kingdom and the
United States, stressing its origins, evolution, and significance in modern times. The pivotal
contributions of individuals such as Harry Hinsley both during and after World War II, which have
shaped the UK's intelligence framework, emphasizing key legislative developments that have
bolstered the legal and operational standing of UK intelligence agencies. The UK, USA Agreement
of 1946 and the consequent legislative and policy adjustments, including the Security Service Act
1989 and the Intelligence Services Act 1994, underscore the move towards a more transparent and
structured intelligence apparatus in the UK.
The dynamics of the UK-US intelligence relationship, reflecting on its initial parity post-World
War II and the subsequent divergence owing to varying geopolitical statuses, resources, and
capabilities. Despite these changes, the special intelligence relationship has endured due to several
core reasons: political alignment, institutional cooperation (especially in signals intelligence), and
mutual competence in the intelligence domain. The UK's global intelligence reach, linguistic skills,
and particular expertise in regions such as the Middle East and Africa, along with its experience
in counterterrorism (notably in Northern Ireland), are highlighted as valuable to the US.
In essence, chapter 11 International intelligence co-operation outlines how history, policy, mutual
respect, and shared security challenges have forged a robust intelligence alliance between the UK
and the US, which remains critical to both nations' strategic interests and global security efforts.

Europe
In Europe, according to this chapter shows that the historical development of military intelligence
relationships in Europe, particularly focusing on the period from the 1950s to the present day. They
work on the evolution of bilateral and multilateral intelligence exchanges, the role of various
European countries in intelligence cooperation, and the impact of terrorism on fostering
collaboration among European intelligence services.
During the early years of NATO, routine intelligence exchanges on a bilateral basis began in the
1960s, with a particular focus on countering the KGB's activities in the UK and Scandinavia. The
emergence of terrorism in the 1970s and 1980s, notably the activities of the PIRA, accelerated
operational collaboration among European intelligence agencies. The struggle with PIRA
prompted increased collaboration, particularly in response to attacks and efforts to secure arms
and munitions in countries such as France, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany.
European intelligence services in addressing the challenges posed by PIRA and Algerian terrorism,
as well as the development of multilateral European intelligence structures. The Club of Berne,
originally comprising nine West European countries and now with 17 members, serves as an inter-
governmental platform for intelligence collaboration. The collaborative efforts, supported by
multilateral exchanges and institutional arrangements, have been instrumental in enhancing mutual
confidence, understanding, and fostering personal friendships among European intelligence
services, ultimately leading to increased operational collaboration.
The rest of the World
The UK's intelligence relationships can be categorized into three main groups:
1. Old Commonwealth Nations : Australia, Canada, and New Zealand maintain close ties with the
UK, contributing to a shared intelligence pool despite geographical limitations.
2. Key Partners in Counterterrorism : Countries like Jordan, Egypt, Singapore, India, and some
Gulf states, notably Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, are crucial allies in the fight against terrorism,
particularly against Al-Qaeda.
3. Global Intelligence Contributors : A wide array of countries provide intelligence relevant to the
UK's Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) needs, often through reciprocal arrangements.
These partnerships enhance the UK's understanding of global threats such as terrorism and drug
trafficking, especially in regions where its own intelligence reach is limited.

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