What are the most famous and best 10 intelligence agencies in the world? There is no better “secret service” in the world, but several very good “secret services” in a given strategic area.
However, if we want to draw up a ranking and based on the main specialized magazines in the sector, here is the list of the best intelligence agencies in the world.
According to the leading trade journals in the industry, the 10 best intelligence agencies in the world are as follows.
- Central Intelligence Agency, (CIA) the United States
- Secret Intelligence Agency (SIS) also known as MI6, UK
- Mossad, Israel
- Ministry of State Security (MSS), China
- Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB), Russia
- Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India
- Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), Germany
- Directorate-General for External Security (DGSE), France
- Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan
- Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS), Australia
Central Intelligence Agency, (CIA) the United States
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is an independently operated intelligence and analysis agency for the United States government. The CIA was created in 1947 following the Pearl Harbor attack at the end of World War II. The most important purpose of the CIA includes the collection, analysis, evaluation, and dissemination of foreign intelligence and the execution of covert actions. The CIA mainly focuses on intelligence gathering and analysis abroad.
The National Clandestine Service (NCS) operates as the clandestine intelligence arm of the CIA and national authority. CIA achievements: sabotage of the Siberian pipeline, detection of Soviet missiles located in Cuba, exploitation of Oleg Penkovsky, and assistance of the CIA in overthrowing the democratically elected governments of Iran (1953), Guatemala (1954), and Chile (1973) achievements by the CIA.
Secret Intelligence Agency (SIS) also known as MI6, UK
The existence of the SIS was not officially recognized until 1994. Secret Intelligence Agency (SIS), also known as MI6, is the intelligence wing of the British government. MI6 stands for Military Intelligence, Section 6. Secret Intelligence Agency is normally alluded to as MI6 and is one of the most established insight organizations on the planet going back to 1909 (over 100 years of age).
The SIS was formed primarily to counter foreign intelligence from the German imperial government of the 18th and 19th centuries. One of MI6’s biggest successes was its contribution in November 2011 which helped capture Saif al-Islam Gaddafi.
Mossad, Israel
Mossad in Hebrew means “the Institute”, which serves as Israel’s national intelligence agency. The Mossad was established in 1949 to counter-terrorism, intelligence gathering, and covert operations. The Mossad was also formed to bring Jews to Israel from countries where official Aliyah agencies are prohibited. The Mossad is considered to be one of the deadliest and most powerful intelligence agencies. They have a large list of notable achievements in their cart.
Mossad Achievements: In 1960, Mossad discovered that Nazi leader Adolf Eichmann, in the 1990s, discovered a Hezbollah agent operating in the United States, Mossad assassinated Latvian Nazi collaborator Herberts Cukurs in 1965, Mossad gathered information on the politician Austrian Jörg Haider using a mole, The killing of Saddam Al Bashir in Nicosia, Cyprus, in 1973 in connection with the Munich massacre and many others.
Ministry of State Security (MSS), China
Established in 1983, the Ministry of State Security serves as an intelligence agency for the People’s Republic of China. Counterintelligence, foreign intelligence, and political security are the primary responsibilities of MSS. The Ministry of State Security is based near the Ministry of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China in Beijing.
The State Security Bureau Network and MSS are two separate entities working in parallel under the Ministry of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China. But these two live together and share information interchangeably.
Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB), Russia
The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation is the main security agency of the Russian Federation established in 1995 and is based in Lubyanka Square, Moscow, Russia. FSB’s former agency is KGB, which in English stands for Committee for State Security.
The main responsibilities of the FSB include counterintelligence, counter-terrorism, surveillance, monitoring of anti-Soviet activities, internal and border security, and investigating other types of serious crimes and violations of federal law.
Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India
Research and Analysis Wing is an Indian-renowned intelligence agency, founded after the 1962 Sino-Indian War and the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War. Based in New Delhi, RAW was founded in 1968 to combat foreign intelligence. and counter-terrorism. In addition, RAW also takes care of information on domestic and foreign governments, companies, and individuals to provide advice to Indian politicians. RAW also provides security for India’s nuclear program.
Many times, RAW has been cited as an effective agency and one of the main tools of national power. Some of the notable and important operations undertaken by RAW include ELINT operations targeting China, the creation of Bangladesh and the aftermath, Amalgamation of Sikkim, Blueprint of Kahuta, Special Operations, Operation Cactus, Operation Chanakya,
Federal Intelligence Service (BND), Germany
Established in 1956, BND is Germany’s foreign intelligence agency which has 300 locations in Germany and other countries. BND is a high-tech intelligence agency, which is based on telecommunication and wireless interception of international communications.
BND acts as an early emergency alert system for Germany by alerting the German government of any external threats. The main findings of BND are: BND deciphered the Libyan Embassy report in 1986, spying on journalists in 2005, promoting the invasion of Iraq in 2003, and many others.
Directorate-General for External Security (DGSE), France
The Directorate-General for External Security of France is considered one of the most powerful and renowned intelligence and security agencies in the world. Located in Paris, DGSE was founded in 1982 to combat terrorism and foreign intelligence gathering.
The DGSE is known for carrying out paramilitary operations, counter-espionage operations abroad together with the DGSI (the Directorate General for Homeland Security). As with most other intelligence agencies in the world, the DGSE does not disclose its intelligence operations to the public or the media.
Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Pakistan
Inter-Services Intelligence is a leading Pakistani intelligence agency, known for providing extremely critical national information and assessments to the Pakistani government. Formed in 1948, the ISI is located in Islamabad, Pakistan.
The ISI is the largest of the three intelligence agencies in Pakistan, the other two being the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Military Intelligence (MI). In the 1990s, the ISI was known for providing intelligence support to the Taliban in Afghanistan during the civil war.
Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS), Australia
Australian Secret Intelligence Service is a renowned secret intelligence agency from Australia, founded in 1952. ASIS is based in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. ASIS is comparable to British MI6 and the American CIA in terms of power, role, and responsibility. ASIS is responsible for providing foreign intelligence, counterintelligence, and liaison information for the Australian government.
