What’s a Game without Offence?
“Espionage is the ultimate mind game, where wits and intellect are the weapons, and the stakes are the balance of power.” – Unknown
“Intelligence is the ultimate game-changer, where the ability to outthink and outmaneuver your opponent determines victory.” – John F. Kennedy
These two quotes personify the idea that intelligence and espionage are a game, and in every game, the players are committed to doing what is necessary to win. But how can you win a game if you only focus on defence and have no offence? You may be able to prevent the other team from scoring occasionally, but how can you win if you never get on the scoreboard?
I don’t want to take this metaphor to extremes, but it does help to demonstrate the differences between Security Intelligence and Foreign Intelligence.
Security Intelligence can be seen as Defence. Its role is to identify, investigate, disrupt, and interfere with national security threats faced by the nation. Its role is to keep the enemy or opposing team from scoring. This could be a terrorist plot from coming to fruition, a foreign state from stealing economic secrets or even disrupting or influencing the democratic process. However, just like a good goalie in hockey knows, every save made shows the opposing team what not to do.
Foreign Intelligence, on the other hand, is the Offence. Think of any sport you like hockey, soccer, football (or just football if you’re reading this outside of Canada and the United States). Each of these sports has specific teams or players who enter the opposing team’s territory, control the puck, ball, or quaffle (if you’re a Harry Potter fan), and score to win. Espionage, sabotage, and foreign influence are all actions taken by Foreign Intelligence operations to further the interests of the opposing team against the defending team.
I have previously written articles demonstrating that Foreign Influence is an offensive tool used by foreign intelligence agencies to advance the economic and political interests of a nation, operating outside the typical diplomatic channels that we usually associate with foreign states. Foreign Intelligence operations aim to use covert and non-diplomatic means to achieve their objectives.
Many of the Five Eyes partners, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, have dedicated Foreign Intelligence Agencies and Organizations. Their mandates involve working outside their countries to protect their nation’s security and interests. Having both offensive and defensive capabilities is a force multiplier. By recruiting agents, whether witting or unwitting, who work in foreign governments, a Foreign Intelligence Agency can gain insight into the opinions, plans, decisions, and processes of foreign powers, enabling better anticipation and defence against hostile actions. Agents of Influence can also assist in shaping government policies that align with the economic and geopolitical security and advancement of the states running the operations, essentially “scoring” points against the enemy team.
Having worked in Canadian Security and Intelligence for over twenty years, I have seen the advantages of having both defensive and offensive strategies. However, Canada does not have a distinct, separate Foreign Intelligence Agency or Service. This could be considered a disadvantage when trying to “win the game” and puts Canada in a precarious position among its Five Eyes partners.
While Canada’s intelligence landscape includes the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), which collects foreign intelligence as part of its broader mandate, the absence of a dedicated Foreign Intelligence Agency places Canada in a comparatively precarious position within the Five Eyes alliance. Here are several key arguments to support this viewpoint:
- Specialized Focus: Foreign intelligence agencies, such as the CIA in the United States and MI6 in the United Kingdom, primarily focus on gathering intelligence abroad. This specialization allows them to allocate dedicated resources, expertise, and training to foreign intelligence operations. In contrast, CSIS has a broader mandate that includes both security intelligence and counterintelligence, potentially resulting in divided attention and limited resources for foreign intelligence gathering.
- Enhanced Coordination and Sharing: The presence of a dedicated Foreign Intelligence Agency facilitates seamless coordination and information sharing among Five Eyes partners. Such agencies possess established protocols, networks, and relationships with counterparts in other countries, leading to smoother cooperation in addressing shared threats. Canada’s lack of a distinct Foreign Intelligence Agency might create hurdles in certain intelligence-sharing mechanisms, potentially limiting the depth of collaboration within the alliance. This is not to say that Canada and its Five Eyes partners do not share large amounts of intelligence, but it does emphasize that there are different techniques, tactics, and procedures that a Foreign Intelligence Agency could leverage in the Five Eyes community, for Canada, to ensure mutual or shared interests are prioritized.
- Strategic Influence: A dedicated Foreign Intelligence Agency can play a crucial role in shaping international affairs and exerting strategic influence. Through intelligence operations, covert activities, and diplomatic engagements, foreign intelligence agencies can gather critical information, influence decision-making processes, and advance national interests. Without a distinct foreign intelligence agency, Canada may face challenges in projecting its influence and leveraging intelligence as an instrument of foreign policy.
- International Operations: Foreign intelligence agencies often conduct operations, including espionage, covert actions, and intelligence gathering, within other countries to protect national security interests. These operations can provide vital insights into emerging threats, geopolitical developments, and potential risks to national security. The absence of a dedicated Foreign Intelligence Agency limits Canada’s ability to conduct such operations independently and could affect its access to actionable intelligence from targeted countries.
- Recruitment and Expertise: Foreign Intelligence Agencies attract talent and expertise specific to foreign intelligence operations. They offer specialized training programs and career paths that focus on foreign languages, cultural understanding, and intelligence collection abroad. Having a distinct foreign intelligence agency provides opportunities to recruit and develop professionals with specialized skills critical to operating in foreign environments. Without such an agency, Canada might face challenges in attracting and nurturing professionals with targeted expertise. As of this writing, Canada’s population is expected to grow to over fifty million in the next decade. Most of this growth will come from immigration. Canada’s national security will continually morph and change. A Foreign Intelligence Agency will ensure that those with the needed skills are working towards a better economic and political future for Canada.
- Proactive Intelligence Gathering: Foreign Intelligence Agencies actively pursue intelligence sources and methods to gather information on potential threats, emerging trends, and global developments outside of the country. Their specialized focus enables them to proactively target intelligence gaps and collect valuable insights on adversaries, emerging technologies, and regional dynamics. The absence of a distinct Foreign Intelligence Agency may limit Canada’s ability to proactively gather foreign intelligence and stay ahead of rapidly evolving global security challenges.
In conclusion, the lack of a dedicated Foreign Intelligence Agency in Canada places the country in a precarious position, not only within the Five Eyes alliance but also for its economic and political significance and prosperity. This absence can impact Canada’s specialized foreign intelligence capabilities, hinder seamless coordination with other alliance members, limit its strategic influence, curtail international operations, and affect the recruitment of specialized talent. To enhance its position within the alliance, Canada should seriously consider establishing a distinct Foreign Intelligence Agency to focus not only on gathering intelligence abroad and better align with the capabilities of its Five Eyes partners but also to identify, recruit, and manage individuals who will help ensure a “winning” future for Canadians.
