international intelligence agency
Definition
Noun: An organization, operating outside the United States, that is responsible for gathering, analyzing, and exploiting information and intelligence deemed relevant to a nation's national security, foreign policy, and defense. These agencies conduct espionage, counterintelligence, and other covert activities.
Usage
The term is used to refer to the foreign intelligence services of other sovereign nations. It distinguishes these entities from domestic intelligence agencies or those of the United States. - The journalist reported on the activities of an international intelligence agency operating in the region. - Cooperation between international intelligence agencies is crucial for combating global terrorism.
Advanced Usage
- The term is often used in geopolitical, security, and espionage contexts to discuss interactions, rivalries, or collaborations between countries' secret services.
- It can be used attributively (like an adjective) to describe operations, networks, or assets: .
Variants and Related Words
- Foreign intelligence service: A near-synonymous phrase.
- Espionage agency: Emphasizes the clandestine information-gathering aspect.
- Secret service: While this can refer to a specific agency (e.g., the U.S. Secret Service), it is sometimes used generically for intelligence agencies.
Synonyms
- Foreign intelligence agency
- External intelligence service
- Overseas intelligence organization
Related Phrases
- Intelligence community: The collective of intelligence agencies within a country, which may include both domestic and international-focused agencies.
- Covert operations: Secret activities often undertaken by such agencies.
Noun
-
an intelligence agency outside the United States
