Running Head: INTELLIGENCE SHARING AND SECURITY COOPERATION 1
Importance of partnering, intelligence sharing and security cooperation on maintaining Domestic
and Global Security
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
INTELLIGENCE SHARING AND SECURITY COOPERATION 2
Abstract
Domestic and global security is of paramount importance to the United States. This paper
analyses how partnership, intelligence sharing and security cooperation assist the country in
protecting its interests and citizens both domestically and abroad. The United States has entered
in numerous military cooperation agreements with many strategic partners across the world
including NATO and EU. The agreements enable the United States to collaborate with other
nations in sharing information across intelligence agencies this increasing its ability to deal with
threats. The need for security cooperation arises in response to the current security challenges
posed by terrorism, cyber warfare and nuclear threats from rogue countries. Security cooperation
is also exercised through mutual training exercises. Defense Corporation agreements have also
enabled the United States to place its military personnel and equipment in other countries.
Together with its security partners, USA is better positioned to guarantee domestic and global
security.
Keywords: Defense cooperation, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, counter-terrorism, security
& Intelligence.
INTELLIGENCE SHARING AND SECURITY COOPERATION 3
Importance of partnering, intelligence sharing and security cooperation on maintaining Domestic
and Global Security
Introduction
Partnership, intelligence sharing, and security cooperation have been an effective strategy
used by many nations including the United States to ensure domestic and international security.
The nations, organizations and partners involved in these security cooperation's assist each other
in building defense partnerships for the future. The parties involved are also able to prepare for
any future uncertainties by enhancing their self-defense capabilities and using intelligence
sharing to harmonize views on the security situations facing them. The need for sharing and
cooperation was made more evident after the Septembers 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the United
States (McGruddy, 2013). The current security threats both global and local are becoming
increasingly complex and no nation can address the security challenges and priorities alone.
Some of the current complex security concerns include cyber warfare, terrorism and proliferation
of nuclear weapons by countries such as North Korea and Iran. Security cooperation programs in
the United States are often determined by statute or by executive orders and are governed in
collaboration with the secretary of state by the Department of Defense (Www.state.gov, 2016).
The United States has cooperation agreements with many individual countries and organizations
in the world. Some of its major partners include the European Union under the Transatlantic
Intelligence Corporation and The National Treaty Organization (NATO).
Intelligence Sharing
Intelligence means systematic and purposeful gathering information by the state bodies
about other states or organizations. This practice arises out of a need by the state to know about
the secrets of their rivals or about potential sources of danger to state security. Sources of
intelligence may include humans or techint (McGruddy, 2013). Human's intelligence source
comprises of data gathered by humans either as spies and informants while techint involves the
use of technology to gather information through acts such as interception and decryption. Prior to
the collapse of the Soviet Union, most of the intelligence sharing initiatives had been directed
towards the cold war. The cold war never involved a direct confrontation between the
superpowers. However, it was during this period that intelligence agencies were fully developed
and interlinked across the word each associating with either the KGB or the CIA (McGruddy,
2013). The two superpowers had created a network of alliances that used to share information
After the collapse of the cold war, intelligence shifted to counter-terrorism efforts.
Terrorist security threat involves the ability of non-state actors to threaten both domestic and
global security. The threat of terrorism became evident when America was attacked leading to
the death of thousands of individuals. Most bilateral intelligence-sharing agreements are made to
ensure that the cooperative approach by the countries and organizations will enable them to get a
clear view of the immediate situation and potential threats. Other benefits of intelligence sharing
involve getting inexpensive surveillance in other countries that would not have been possible or
would have been exceedingly expensive without the cooperation of the host country (Tzanou,
2015). Less developed countries are also able to gain vital aid resources.
Intelligence sharing is enhanced by the fact that the countries involved in sharing
arrangement often have a similar security challenge or threat. Terrorism is a reality both in the
INTELLIGENCE SHARING AND SECURITY COOPERATION 4
United States as well as in Asia and Europe (Tzanou, 2015). The multilateral sharing and
approach enables a diverse perspective on the issue thus gaining a deeper insight. The countries
involved also develop a single vocabulary on the thinking about the issue in question. This is the
first step towards a harmonized global approach on the issue. Because global intelligence
collection is so diverse, no one country should bear the entire cost alone. Collaboration enables
each country to share responsibility and each focuses on a certain area enabling a deeper analysis
of the issue.
One of the successful intelligence sharing is between USA and the European Union.
After the terrorist attack on American soil, intelligence sharing revealed the wide terror network
in Europe where the Al-Qaeda had terrorist cells across Europe. A Europe-wide counterterrorism
measure developed using shared intelligence led to arrest and asset freezing of many suspected
terrorists in Europe (McGruddy, 2013). Many intelligence agencies in Europe have closely
involved the United States in its investigations. Both partners have developed legal frameworks
for sharing strategic information on crime behavior and risk analysis. They also share personal
data of individuals under surveillance.
Partnership and Security Cooperation
The United States is a founding member of security cooperation organizations such as
NATO. It has also entered into direct security cooperation agreements with many individual
countries across the world. The security cooperation main objectives include building defense
relationships with strategic partners to assist the United States in promoting security on its
interests across the globe. The second objective is to enable the United States to enable its allies
and partners to develop defense capabilities for self-defense and to transform their security
apparatus to enable joint coalition operations with the United States. Security cooperation also
aims at enabling the involved parties to harmonize their views on common security challenges
facing them and the rest of the world. Security cooperation has enabled the United States to have
access to infrastructure in other countries during peacetime (Www.state.gov, 2016).
One example of security cooperation between countries can be found in NATO. The
organization is comprised of 28 member countries who are joined through cooperative security
as one of its main core tasks (Www.nato.int, 2013). To further enhance its effectiveness, NATO
engages other 41 countries as partners (2013). The organization ties within its membership and
other partners are built upon mutual interest, mutual benefit, and reciprocity. The organization
has continuously been undergoing transformations mainly spearheaded by the United States,
aimed at enabling NATO and its partners to effectively deal with complex challenges in crisis
management, terrorism, and other security challenges.
To enhance global security, NATO collaborates with the United Nations, the European
Union and Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) (Www.nato.int, 2013).
America being one of the critical members of NATO has used the organization to push its
security agenda across the world. NATO has continuously worked with its members and partners
to push for defense reforms and capacity building among members and partners, counter-
terrorism efforts, dealing with emerging security challenges such as cyber defense, piracy, and
energy security and civil emergency planning.
INTELLIGENCE SHARING AND SECURITY COOPERATION 5
Within NATO and on its own, United States has been dealing with various global and
domestic challenges to its security. Some of them include Russia continuous lack of respect for
its neighbors like Ukraine which is an American security partner. Other challenges include Iran
and North Korea perusal of nuclear capability that is likely to threaten the regional balance of
power in Asia and Middle East leading to nuclear proliferation. China has also been creating
tensions in Asia Pacific region by claiming a host of disputed islands (Www.state.gov, 2016).
There is also a spread of Violet Extremist Organizations whose main aim is to radicalize
populations thus undermining regional peace. Considering the large extent of American interests
across the world, this international threat requires that the United States work with strategic
partners to ensure its interests are secure.
In the Korean region, the United States works with South Korea and Japan to counter the
threat of North Korea nuclear threat. It is engaged in military exercises and training with these
partners to ensure that they are well equipped and prepared to meet any aggression by North
Korea. The United States has also relied on military coalitions with its allies to combat its
enemies to national security. An example is the 2001 and 2003 wars in Afghanistan and Iraq
against Taliban and Saddam Hussein (Tzanou, 2015). Currently, the United States has engaged
allies and partners in the fight against ISIS in Syria and Iraq.
One of the ways in which the United States engages with individual countries is through
Military Cooperation Agreement. One example of the military cooperation agreement is the
agreement between Qatar and the United States. This agreement gives the United States the
ability to have peacetime military camps in the country as well as use infrastructures in Qatar to
push its Middle East security agenda. As a result, the United States has a state of the art airbase
in Qatar as well as forward placement base for its heavy machinery and weapons in the country.
The agreement has enabled the United States to have a military force that can react swiftly and
respond to any military threats against its allies and interests in the region.
American homeland security is enhanced by North America Aerospace Defense
Command with Canada. The United States has also installed missile defense system in the
country as well as in Europe incorporation with European partners (Www.state.gov, 2016). The
latest missile defense system, named Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System, called was launched
this year in Poland in collaboration with NATO (Browne, 2016). The missile defense system is
aimed at intercepting nuclear missiles from rogue states such as Iran and North Korea. The new
land-based defense system adds to the already established NATO defense shields and radar
installations in Turkey (Browne, 2016).
Conclusion
To ensure domestic and global security, the United States has created security
cooperation and partnerships with other countries and also with organizations such as NATO and
EU. These partnerships and agreements are aimed at enabling the United States to extend its
influence and ability to defend its allies and interests. The country has also entered into
intelligence sharing agreements with partners and allies. Through this agreement, the country is
able to identify threats and act to ensure they are adequately addressed. The country is also able
to assess the global and domestic security situations more comprehensively, more that it would if
it had been working alone. Defense Corporation agreements have also enabled the United States
to place its military personnel and equipment in other countries. This increases its response time
INTELLIGENCE SHARING AND SECURITY COOPERATION 6
in case it called upon to defend its interests across various regions in the world. These strategic
alliances have enabled the United States to gain an upper hand in defending its territory and
citizens against security threats either from other states or from terrorism.
INTELLIGENCE SHARING AND SECURITY COOPERATION 7
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