Counter-Intelligence and Counter-Espionage Priorities - Essay Example

The power struggle between nations has evolved to spread beyond geographical boundaries even without needing the help of the military. David Lonsdale has talked about this phenomenon by evoking the consequences of information technology. There have been a number of changes happening in geopolitical relations that have changed the way, counter-espionage and counterintelligence operations are carried out. The changes have also transformed the time and space in which such acts are relevant. Growing international economic competition and potential regional instabilities vastly broaden the scope of the potential intelligence threat.

Our traditional openness, combined with recent changes in immigration laws and the sheer volume of information flow in the United States, affords great access to sensitive information and facilities as well as to individuals who may be targets for intelligence collection. Similarly, the formation of Europol in the European Union was a step towards ensuring effective counterintelligence coordination within the EU nations.4 UK has also included the US “among the prioritized country for a cooperation treaty with Europol.

”5 All this refocusing and redesigning of intelligence activities represent a broader understanding of the changes that happen around. Counterintelligence operations have thus become more around-the-clock activity than being a response to some existing or potential security threats. Researchers have been talking about the need for establishing an “international intelligence model…[that can]…establish shared concepts and procedures in the exchange of intelligence and common national and international intelligence work.

”International counterespionage and counterintelligence activities and theories have to be discussed in the broader context of geopolitics. The term, ‘geopolitics’, is often used to understand international politics and foreign policy matters. Henry Kissinger had equaled this concept with “global equilibrium and permanent national interests in the world balance of power.”Thus this concept is viewed as a prerequisite for maintaining global peace and well-being. But usually, counterintelligence and counterespionage practices have also a trait to create global tensions as well.