The intelligence service is the most powerful organization for any people and country. There are countless agencies in the world that work to ensure the security of the state and also act as a powerful and strong deterrent against destabilizing the situation. Intelligence agencies are a truly complex network, so it is impossible to trace and find out what they are actually doing. Thus, it is very difficult to list the top ten intelligence agencies in the world.
10. Australian Security Intelligence Service (ASIS - Australia)
The Australian Security Intelligence Service is the official Australian government organization responsible for intelligence gathering. foreign countries
. It was created in 1952, the current director is Nick Warner. The most interesting thing is that the service was a secret for the Australian government for more than 20 years.
You can easily imagine the power of organization. The service's primary interests span Asia and the Pacific, with agents scattered throughout the world to collect and maintain records that protect a country's economy and politics. The approximate budget of ASBR is $162 million.
9. Intelligence Community of India (RAW - India)
The Indian Intelligence Community is the ninth-ranked foreign intelligence organization. It was formed in 1968 after two armed clashes. The first occurred in 1962 during the Sino-Indian War and in 1965 after the Indo-Pakistani War.
After two defeats, the Indians realized that they must have a strong external organization that would protect India's interests outside its borders, with a view to anticipating the military situation on early stage. Previously, India's Intelligence Community was responsible for domestic and foreign affairs. It is worth noting that India is included in the ranking of 10 countries with developing economies.
8. Directorate General for External Security (DGSE – France)
The Directorate General of External Security of France takes an active part in the creation of intelligence operations and the protection of national security abroad. The service was formed in 1982 and its main mission is to obtain records and collect intelligence information from various sources to help the country in a military-strategic situation. In the organisation DGSE employs more than 5,000 people under the leadership of Erard Corbin de Mangu.
7. United States Intelligence Community (CIA - America)
The CIA is the largest frontline intelligence agency, responsible for collecting data and information from other countries that could influence US policy.. The head of the CIA is John Brennan (previously this post was held by Leon Panetta), the service was formed in 1947. Its main task is to this moment is the fight against terrorism.
Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the goal has been to capture al-Qaeda leaders and weaken the organization. The CIA and the US Army have completely failed the counter-terrorism mission; not a single al-Qaeda leader has been caught after 9 years of hard work. But they had little success in killing al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in May 2012 in Pakistan, where he was hiding. Despite having a high budget and the most advanced technology, the CIA failed to do a lot.
6. Federal Intelligence Service (BND - Germany)
The BND is Germany's foreign intelligence service and official government security agency that works as an early warning system for German government corruption.. To protect German interests, the organization monitors international communications and listens to conversations through online calls.
The service collects and analyzes data and evaluates information to prepare a report for officials. As a foreign intelligence agency, BND covers both military and civilian services with more than 6,000 employees. Germany is included in the ranking of 12 countries that hate the United States.
5. Ministry of State Security of the People's Republic of China (MSS - China)
The Ministry of State Security is the largest and most active Chinese intelligence agency. The organization's head office is located in Beijing and covers the supervision of international and political issues, extending strict policies to foreign agents and spies. One of the main missions M.S.S. is to collect information from various countries.
They say that many agents M.S.S. work in the USA, Canada and Australia, most of them worked as prominent businessmen, bankers, scientists and journalists. This truly demonstrates the wide range of missions of the great Chinese intelligence service.
4. Department of Intelligence and Special Tasks (Mossad - Israel)
The Mossad is responsible for collecting intelligence for Israel. It is one of the most successful intelligence services in the world, taking an active part in covert operations and paramilitary activities. Acquisition of MIG-21 in 1967 and theft of plans " Mirage 5" also the merit of this agency.
The Mossad assists the US in supporting Solidarity. The service was founded in 1949 and has approximately 1,200 employees. Until 2011, the Mossad was headed by Meir Dagan, and is currently led by Tamir Pardo.
3. Secret Intelligence Service (MI6 - UK)
British MI6 is also an effective intelligence service. A bit like the CIA in America. It has good technical equipment, MI6 can be considered the best intelligence service in the world. They say they can access any confidential information and documents in order to change any details for their own purposes. How successful is not yet known.
2. Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI - Pakistan)
Renowned intelligence has a long successful track record ISI. The Inter-Services Intelligence was formed in 1948, only a year after Pakistan's independence, to strengthen the effectiveness of the young country. The success in achieving its goal without leading to major interventions is unparalleled; no one can compete with the high professionalism of the best intelligence in the world.
In history ISI there were absolutely no double agents, and this is one of the main reasons to consider it one of the best intelligence agencies. It is one of the least funded intelligence agencies of the ten, and has 10,000 really good agents working all over the world.
1. Federal Security Service (FSB – Russia)
Federal Security Service Russian Federation(formerly KGB) is the main domestic security organization in the country. All law enforcement agencies and institutions work on orders from the FSB. The service is responsible for the internal and external security of the Russian state. She is involved in counterintelligence, border security, counterterrorism and surveillance. The organization fights organized crime and drug trafficking within the state.
It seems to you that someone is watching you, reading your email and listens to your telephone conversations? Don't rush to see a psychiatrist! It could be THEM! No, not aliens, but very real people - intelligence officers. And don’t think that you are too insignificant to be of interest to the knights of the cloak and dagger. Do you have relatives abroad? What a reason to watch! Who doesn’t have them now, you say? Do you know what exactly they do? No? And the intelligence services are aware! Speaking seriously, the intelligence services of any country now have a wide enough potential to track down almost anyone. Does this mean that someone can periodically spy on you? Well, if your activities may be of at least some interest to the intelligence services, then this is quite possible. So, we bring to your attention a list of the ten most influential intelligence agencies in the world.
10. German Federal Intelligence Service, BND
The German Federal Intelligence Service is the German foreign intelligence service, created in 1955 on the basis of the so-called “General Gehlen organization”. It is the largest federal institution in Germany in terms of the number of employees. The BND has a staff of about 7 thousand employees, of which 2 thousand are engaged in collecting intelligence abroad. The main tasks of the department are the collection and analysis of intelligence. information, as well as identifying and countering threats to the sovereignty and interests of the Federal Republic of Germany. The BND also devotes a significant portion of its resources to the fight against terrorism.
9. Directorate General for External Security, DGSE (France)
The Directorate General for External Security is the main foreign intelligence agency of France, created on April 2, 1982. Its mission is to provide intelligence and national security, in particular by conducting paramilitary and counterintelligence operations abroad. The main office is located in the 20th arrondissement of Paris. The staff as of 2011 totals 4,747 people. As with most other intelligence services, the details of its activities and organization are not made public.
In eighth place in the list of the best intelligence services in the world is the Ministry of State Security of the People's Republic of China - an intelligence service whose main functions are counterintelligence, foreign and internal intelligence, as well as political security of the Chinese People's Republic. It was created on June 6, 1983. The headquarters is located in Beijing.
7. Australian Secret Intelligence Service, ASIS
The Australian Secret Intelligence Service, headquartered in Canberra, is responsible for intelligence collection, counterintelligence and liaison with intelligence services of other countries. It was created on May 13, 1952. However, the Australian government officially confirmed its existence only in 1977. It is interesting that the training of the first ASIS employees was carried out by employees of the British MI6.
6. Research and Analysis Department, RAW (India)
The Research and Analysis Division, India's foreign intelligence service, is considered one of the best intelligence agencies in the world. It was created in September 1968. Its main functions are foreign intelligence, counter-terrorism, covert operations, obtaining and analyzing information about foreign governments, corporations, and ensuring the security of India's nuclear program.
5. Intelligence and Special Tasks Agency, Mossad (Israel)
Mossad is Israel's national intelligence service, an analogue of the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). It is considered one of the most effective and professional intelligence services in the world. Its main tasks are the collection and analysis of intelligence. information, as well as conducting secret special operations outside the country. The organization was formed in March 1951. The main office is located in Tel Aviv on King Shaul Boulevard. Currently, the estimated number of Mossad employees is 1,200. The most famous successful operations of this department are: the search and kidnapping of the Nazi included in the rating of the most cruel rulers in history, Adolf Eichmann, the kidnapping of nuclear technician Mordechai Vanunu, eliminating the causes of the Munich massacre on Olympic Games in 1972 and many others.
4. Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, FSB
The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation is the national security service of Russia, the successor to the KGB. Its main functions are counterintelligence, intelligence and border activities, the fight against terrorism, corruption and especially dangerous forms of crime, as well as ensuring information security. It was formed on April 3, 1995. The headquarters is located in the main building of the former KGB on Lubyanka, Moscow.
3. British Secret Intelligence Service, MI6
The British Secret Intelligence Service is the UK's foreign intelligence service, headquartered in London. It was founded in 1909. However, its existence was officially recognized only in 1994. The main tasks of MI6 are the fight against espionage (counterintelligence), as well as the collection, processing and analysis of political, economic, technical and scientific information that threatens the interests of Great Britain.
2. Central Intelligence Agency, CIA (USA)
The Central Intelligence Agency is an American secret agency whose main functions are to conduct covert operations, as well as collect and analyze information about foreign governments, organizations, companies and individuals. The special service was created in 1947. The headquarters is located in Langley, Virginia, 13 km from Washington.
1. Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence, ISI
The best intelligence agency in the world is the Pakistan Inter-Services Intelligence, created in 1948. Known as the most influential, powerful and well-equipped intelligence agency in the Islamic world. Its headquarters consists of several buildings and is located in Islamabad. According to some experts, the ISI is the largest intelligence agency in the world in terms of number of employees. Although their total number has never been made public, it is estimated to be around 10,000.
Below is a list of the ten best intelligence agencies in the world. We also recommend that you familiarize yourself with the ranking of the best special forces units in the world.
10 German Federal Intelligence Service, BND
The German Federal Intelligence Service is the German foreign intelligence service, created in 1955 on the basis of the so-called “General Gehlen organization”. It is the largest federal institution in Germany in terms of the number of employees. The BND has a staff of about 7 thousand employees, of which 2 thousand are engaged in collecting intelligence abroad. The main tasks of the department are the collection and analysis of intelligence. information, as well as identifying and countering threats to the sovereignty and interests of the Federal Republic of Germany. The BND also devotes a significant portion of its resources to the fight against terrorism.
9 Directorate General for External Security, DGSE (France)
The Directorate General of External Security is the main foreign intelligence agency of France, created on April 2, 1982. Its mission is to provide intelligence and national security, in particular by conducting paramilitary and counterintelligence operations abroad. The main office is located in the 20th arrondissement of Paris. The staff as of 2011 totals 4,747 people. As with most other intelligence services, the details of its activities and organization are not made public.
8 Ministry of State Security of the People's Republic of China
In eighth place in the list of the best intelligence services in the world is the Ministry of State Security of the People's Republic of China - an intelligence service whose main functions are counterintelligence, foreign and internal intelligence, as well as political security of the People's Republic of China. It was created on June 6, 1983. The headquarters is located in Beijing.
7 Australian Secret Intelligence Service, ASIS
The Australian Secret Intelligence Service, headquartered in Canberra, is responsible for intelligence collection, counterintelligence and liaison with intelligence services of other countries. It was created on May 13, 1952. However, the Australian government officially confirmed its existence only in 1977. It is interesting that the training of the first ASIS employees was carried out by employees of the British MI6.
6 Research and Analysis Department, RAW (India)
One of the best intelligence agencies in the world is the Research and Analysis Department - India's foreign intelligence service. It was created in September 1968. Its main functions are foreign intelligence, counter-terrorism, covert operations, obtaining and analyzing information about foreign governments, corporations, and ensuring the security of India's nuclear program.
5 Intelligence and Special Tasks Agency, Mossad (Israel)
Mossad is Israel's national intelligence service, an analogue of the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). It is considered one of the most effective and professional intelligence services in the world. Its main tasks are the collection and analysis of intelligence. information, as well as conducting secret special operations outside the country. The organization was formed in March 1951. The main office is located in Tel Aviv on King Shaul Boulevard. Currently, the estimated number of Mossad employees is 1,200. The most famous successful operations of this department are: the search and abduction of the Nazi included in the rating of the most cruel rulers in history, Adolf Eichmann, the abduction of nuclear technician Mordechai Vanunu, eliminating the causes of the Munich massacre at the Olympic Games in 1972 and many others.
4 Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, FSB
The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation is the national security service of Russia, the successor to the KGB. Its main functions are counterintelligence, intelligence and border activities, the fight against terrorism, corruption and especially dangerous forms of crime, as well as ensuring information security. It was formed on April 3, 1995. The headquarters is located in the main building of the former KGB on Lubyanka, Moscow.
3 British Secret Intelligence Service, MI6
The British Secret Intelligence Service is the UK's foreign intelligence service, headquartered in London. It was founded in 1909. However, its existence was officially recognized only in 1994. The main tasks of MI6 are the fight against espionage (counterintelligence), as well as the collection, processing and analysis of political, economic, technical and scientific information that threatens the interests of Great Britain.
2 Central Intelligence Agency, CIA (USA)
The Central Intelligence Agency is an American secret agency whose main functions are to conduct covert operations, as well as collect and analyze information about foreign governments, organizations, companies and individuals. The special service was created in 1947. The headquarters is located in Langley, Virginia, 13 km from Washington.
1 Pakistan Inter-Services Intelligence, ISI
The best intelligence agency in the world is the Pakistan Inter-Services Intelligence, created in 1948. Known as the most influential, powerful and well-equipped intelligence agency in the Islamic world. Its headquarters consists of several buildings and is located in Islamabad. According to some experts, the ISI is the largest intelligence agency in the world in terms of number of employees. Although their total number has never been made public, it is estimated to be around 10,000.
And precisely because the collection of secret information is a very important activity, in many countries of the world secret agencies play a very important role. important role. Failures in covert missions can lead to dire consequences (the 9/11 attack is one such example), while successful missions help the country avoid many tragedies.
We present to your attention the ten best, in our opinion, secret world agencies of our time. Please note that these are current agencies (sorry KGB fans).
Number 10 – KSRS (Canada)
The Canadian Secret Intelligence Service (CSRS) was formed in 1984 from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Like the CIA and MI6, the CRS was formed as a civilian agency with no ties to the military or police. Canadian secret agents worked both inside and outside the country.They tried to monitor and prevent threats to Canada's security. KRSC came under criticism after the 1985 shooting down of Air India Flight 182 carrying 280 Canadian citizens. KSRS officials said several strategic errors resulted in the loss of black box data. To date, no one has been held accountable for this incident.
Something to be proud of: From 1988 to 1994, CRPF agent Grant Bristow was infiltrated into the Canadian white supremacist movement and became the head of security for the Heritage Front, the most prominent white supremacist organization in Canada. Bristow's activities led to several arrests and prevented several "acts of retaliation." His cover was blown in 1994 by a Toronto journalist.
Number 9 – ACPA (Australia)
The Australian Secret Intelligence Agency (ASRA) was formed in 1952. His responsibilities included collecting classified information, counterintelligence, and especially countering other intelligence services in the world.Most recently, the Australian government published a contested claim that allows ASRA to cooperate with other organizations (like the CIA) in various paramilitary operations, but does not require ASRA agents to personally participate in them.
ACPA has been criticized on several occasions, including one incident in 1994 when it was accused of keeping the personal files of thousands of Australian citizens secret.
What you can be "proud of": In 1983, during a training operation at the Sheraton Hotel (Melbourne), an ordinary low-profile agency attracted unwanted public attention. What began as a test of the organization's readiness to rescue a foreign secret service agent turned into a "total release."
The agents participating in the training put pressure on hotel employees and guests, and used physical strength to the hotel manager, thereby fulfilling “his mission.”
Number 8 – PIA (India)
India's External Intelligence Agency (FIA) was formed in 1968 as a result of the large intelligence gap required during the wars with Pakistan and China.Unlike most Western agencies, the PIA was formed as one of the divisions of the Indian federal cabinet and does not bear any responsibility to the Indian Parliament. Most of PIA's attention Lately focused on India's neighbor Pakistan.
During the Kargil War in Kashmir in 1999, the PIA established links between Pakistani intelligence and terrorist groups and also infiltrated almost all paramilitary forces in the Kashmir valley.
Something to be proud of: PIA played a significant role in the formation of Bangladesh in 1971. The agency helped raise a wave of irritation with the ruling regime among the population of Bangladesh (then this country was part of Pakistan and was called East Pakistan), which led to the formation of the guerrilla army of Bangladesh.
The FIA undercover infiltrated East Pakistan and carried out a number of secret operations, which helped defeat the Pakistani army.
Number 7 – MOSSAD (Israel)
Israel's extremely active intelligence agency (MOSSAD) is involved in intelligence gathering, counter-terrorism and various covert operations.The director of the agency answers directly to the head of state - the prime minister. MOSSAD is a civilian service and its members do not have any military ranks, although most have served in the Israeli military (this is mandatory).
The most famous unit of MOSSAD is the Special Operations Division or Metsada. Metsada is responsible for several assassinations, military operations, sabotage and psychological warfare.
What to be proud of: In 1960, Mossad agents learned that Adolf Eichmann, a famous Nazi criminal, lived in Argentina under the name Ricardo Klement. He was kidnapped from the country by a group of Mossad agents and transported to Israel, where he was convicted and executed.
Number 6 – FSRC (Germany)
The predecessor agency of Germany's Federal Intelligence and Counterintelligence Service (FSERK) was formed before World War II and was intended to monitor the Soviet Union.Currently, the agency is a kind of “early warning system” for the German government about the emergence of potential threats to the country’s security (tapping of telephone conversations and electronic surveillance for international communication service).
The annual budget of the FSRC is very large and exceeds 430 million euros. FSRC has been embroiled in several recent internal scandals involving wiretapping and surveillance of journalists, and they have also used reporters as spies.
Something to be proud of: During the Iraq War in 2003, the German government refused to provide US President George W. Bush with military units to participate in the coalition. At the same time, two FSRC agents distinguished themselves by handing over copies of the Baghdad defense plans that were developed by Saddam Hussein a month before the invasion.
Number 5 – MSR (Pakistan)
Poor coordination between the Army, Navy and Air Force during the Indo-Pakistan War in 1947 led to the formation of the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) a year later. Since then, the agency's influence has steadily grown, thanks to the influence of Pakistani leaders.Since 9/11, MSI has worked extensively with the CIA to prevent terrorist attacks by both Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, as well as Pakistan's homegrown terrorists. The MSR is a deceptively active and powerful agency, known for its style of waging "stealth" wars.
Something to be proud of: In 1980, the MSI foiled an attempted plot against the President of Pakistan, General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, during a national parade.
The conspirators, who included high-ranking military commanders, planned to carry out a bloody coup in the country and replace the existing rule with an extremist Islamic government. The MSI arrested the alleged plotters and their supporters before the planned coup began.
Number 4 – GDVB (France)
The General Directorate of External Security (GDVB) was formed relatively recently, in 1982, to replace the external counterintelligence service SDECE. The Directorate is responsible for collecting classified information and carrying out preventive measures to detect and find the activities of agents from other countries of the world directed against the interests of France.Although the agency is low profile, this did not stop them from bombing the GREENPEACE fleet, which was protesting France's nuclear tests. Thanks to the activity law enforcement New Zealand's conspiracy was exposed. Two GDVB agents were arrested and found guilty of the death of a journalist who drowned in that incident.
What you can be proud of: The GDVB Agency quickly demonstrated what it is worth. In the 80s, a group of Soviet spies collecting information about technical developments was exposed Western countries for the USSR. This is still the largest group of secret industrial espionage agents ever uncovered in Europe or the United States.
Number 3 – GRU (Russia)
When we think of Russian intelligence, we usually think of the KGB. However, the KGB was dissolved by Boris Yeltsin in 1995, while the even older Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) continued to operate despite the fall of the USSR. The GRU was formed in 1918 by Vladimir Lenin, and dealt with all matters of military intelligence.Since that time, the GRU has taken part in many significant anti-national uprisings in Eastern Europe. According to the former agent, the GRU has created a number of secret weapons warehouses in the United States that are accessible to Russian special agents.
What you can be proud of: The activities of the GRU are not very noticeable. But it is believed that it was involved in the assassination attempt former president Chechnya Zelimkhan Yandarbiev, who lived in Qatar until 2004 and was accused of collaborating with al-Qaeda. The assassination attempt took place in the Qatari capital, Doha, with a direct bomb hitting the car in which the president was sitting.
Number 2 – MI6 (UK)
The Secret Intelligence Service, or MI6, was formed just before World War I to monitor the activities of the Imperial German government. Over the years, MI6 has been involved in everything significant conflicts 20th and 21st centuries.Even before the terrorist attacks of September 11, MI6 actively collaborated with its American counterparts and shared classified intelligence, as well as taking an active part in covert operations. MI6, with the assistance of the CIA, took part in the overthrow of several ruling regimes around the world, the most famous of which were the revolutions in the Congo in 1961 and Iran in 1953.
Something to be proud of: 007 stories aside, MI6's most successful recent operation was the hostage rescue in Lebanon in the 1980s. In particular, thanks to MI6 agents, a serious internal conflict arose within Lebanese parliamentary groups, which made it no longer possible to hold the hostages.
Number 1 – CIA (USA)
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was founded in 1947. The agency's activities include the following three main functions:1) Obtaining and analyzing information about foreigners,
2) Propaganda and public relations,
3) Secret operations related to the security of the president.
During the Cold War, the CIA was given greater freedom of action because the American government believed that such freedom was necessary to successfully confront the KGB.
As a result, the CIA was involved in many successful operations and failed attempts eliminating unnecessary leaders of countries. The most famous among them were operations in Chile and Congo (successful), as well as in Cuba (unsuccessfully).
What to be proud of: Bay of Pigs Invasion may be the most significant, but BLUEBIRD (the James Bourne films starring Matt Damon) is more shocking. From 1951 to 1953, the CIA conducted experiments related to human mind control, which involved research into the process of creating a new human personality (or several) and replacing memories. For this purpose, electrodes were placed in a person's brain, which made it possible to control his behavior using remote transmitters, and electric shock treatment was used to erase his memory.
Shh...quiet. It's a secret
As you already understand, intelligence is not only exact sciences. In it, while there are successful operations, there are also failures. Intelligence gathering and covert operations are extremely risky, requiring a lot of luck in addition to sound calculation (often everything is based on guesswork).And failures, such as the unsuccessful attempts to eliminate Fidel Castro in the 60s, only confirm the fact that operations do not always go as smoothly as in the James Bond films.
Considering the pace of Russia's revival, this list will soon be modified;).
IN modern world Given the tense political situation, the role of special intelligence services has increased very seriously. The “James Bonds” of the 21st century not only perform tasks familiar to intelligence officers, but also actively work in the information space. Today, most countries in the world have their own intelligence services, but only a few of them are truly distinguished by their high professional level and enormous capabilities.
Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR)
The SVR is the successor to the former 1st Main Directorate (PGU) of the KGB of the USSR, which was responsible for foreign political intelligence. Very little is known about the activities of the SVR - this is perhaps the most secret Russian intelligence service. But, judging by the reaction of the West, modern Russian intelligence officers are working for high level. Even during the Cold War, Washington did not accuse Moscow of influencing American elections.
Fighters special unit Russian foreign intelligence service Zaslon and Russian journalist Dmitry Kiselev in Syria
The Foreign Intelligence Service is also active in the Middle East, where it has to solve very important problems in Syria, Iraq, Iran, Yemen and other countries.
US Central Intelligence Agency
The CIA is the most popular intelligence service in the world. What is not attributed to American agents! Meanwhile, many CIA operations can indeed be called very successful, and this is not only the usual recruitment of agents and theft of classified information, but also such large-scale actions as “color revolutions” in post-Soviet space, in Arab countries. The Ukrainian Maidan is sometimes also called a CIA special operation. At the very least, there is no doubt that American foreign intelligence played a very important role in organizing the coup in Kyiv and the subsequent anti-Russian turn in Ukraine.
Mossad
Israeli intelligence is considered one of the most professional and tough intelligence services in the world. Its most famous actions are the liquidation of many Arab leaders radical organizations, Iranian nuclear scientists, identifying Nazi war criminals. It is known that now only about a thousand career employees serve in the Mossad, but Israeli intelligence officers have entangled almost the entire world in a network of agents. And this brings results - for example, intelligence officers eliminated all the terrorists who captured and killed Israeli athletes during the Olympics in Munich in 1972.
The British Foreign Office's secret intelligence service, MI6, is one of the oldest modern intelligence services. It was created back in 1909 and went through the First and Second World Wars, numerous conflicts in the colonies, Cold War West from the USSR.
British intelligence building MI6 in London
Now the whole world is literally crammed with British agents who work in close contact with their American colleagues, the Anglo-Saxons remain allies in the secret war. MI6 special attention area – Eastern Europe, former British colonies in Africa, Middle East.
ISI Pakistan
The Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence was created during the Cold War under the direct patronage of the US CIA. However, then the intelligence service turned into a powerful independent structure, which today has the largest number of agents. Areas of interest include Muslim countries of Central Asia and the Middle East, India, European countries. The Pakistani intelligence service acts harshly and aggressively, mercilessly punishing the enemies of the Pakistani state and organizing all kinds of provocations against countries that are potential opponents. During the Soviet participation in the war in Afghanistan, the ISI maintained close ties with the mujahideen.
Ministry of State Security of the People's Republic of China
The MGB of the People's Republic of China is a large and cumbersome structure similar to the Soviet KGB, responsible for both foreign intelligence and counterintelligence and political security. The Ministry of State Security of the People's Republic of China includes operational departments that are in charge of foreign political intelligence, scientific, technical and economic intelligence, intelligence in disputed territories (Taiwan), intelligence from the territory of the Middle Kingdom itself, etc.
Considering the large number of Chinese diasporas in the United States, Southeast Asia, and Europe, one can imagine the reach of Chinese foreign intelligence.
Iranian Ministry of Information and National Security
In Iran, as in China, the functions of the intelligence services are concentrated in a single structure responsible for intelligence, counterintelligence, and the fight against terrorism. Iranian agents are especially active in nearby countries of the Middle East, especially in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Pakistan - that is, in those countries where significant Shiite communities live and Tehran has strategic interests.
MIT - National Intelligence Organization of Turkey
The Turkish intelligence agency combines the functions of foreign intelligence and internal secret political police. One of the main tasks of MIT is the fight against the enemies of the Turkish state, which include leftist and Kurdish organizations, and some religious fundamentalist movements. In addition, MIT is actively working in countries with a significant proportion of the Turkic population and in nearby states - Syria and Iraq. However, the intelligence service also had well-known failures - for example, MIT was exposed in supplying weapons to extremists in Syria.
BND - German Federal Intelligence Service
The emergence of its own foreign intelligence service (Bundesnachrichtendienst) in post-war West Germany was a result of the country's inclusion in the Cold War. An echo of Germany's defeat in World War II is the ban on organizing any subversive activities in other states.
However, the BND is considered one of the most knowledgeable intelligence agencies, possessing huge amounts of information.
DGSE - Directorate General for External Security of France
In France, foreign political intelligence is combined with military intelligence and together they form part of the Directorate General of External Security, subordinate to the French Ministry of Defense. French intelligence officers include civilian personnel (civil servants) and officers and sergeants of the French armed forces. Among the most important areas are reconnaissance of the forces of a potential enemy in Europe, operations in former French colonies, and the fight against terrorism.