Spy agencies are reevaluating their information exchange practices in order to effectively address transnational threats, according to the latest National Intelligence Strategy. This strategy, which outlines overarching goals for the United States intelligence community, emphasizes the need for spy agencies to collaborate with external entities to identify and mitigate supply chain disruptions, infectious diseases, and other emerging global risks.
In recent years, the US government has taken steps to share extensive cybersecurity threat intelligence with American companies and utilities, as they are often primary targets of foreign hackers. Additionally, information on foreign influence operations has been shared with social media companies. However, the ever-evolving threat landscape, coupled with recent events such as the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has necessitated a fundamental shift in intelligence-sharing approaches.
Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines stressed the importance of broadening and institutionalizing information exchange on a wide range of topics, spanning from academia to local governments, within the private sector. The aim is to equip intelligence agencies with a comprehensive understanding of transnational threats and bolster their ability to warn policymakers of imminent dangers.
The evolving nature of threats is reflected in the topics covered in daily intelligence briefings prepared for President Biden and his top advisers. While terrorism and the Middle East once dominated these briefings, they now regularly address subjects as diverse as China’s advancements in artificial intelligence, the geopolitical implications of climate change, and the status of semiconductor chips.
The new National Intelligence Strategy aims to guide the 18 US intelligence agencies, with a combined annual budget of approximately $90 billion, under the coordination of Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines. While the 16-page document does not provide specific program details or budgetary information, it emphasizes the imperative for spy agencies to support the US in its competition with authoritarian governments like China and Russia, particularly in technological arenas.
With regard to transnational threats such as financial crises, narcotics trafficking, supply-chain disruptions, and infectious diseases, the strategy calls for strengthening internal capabilities within intelligence agencies to effectively alert US policymakers to imminent risks. However, a report from the House Intelligence Committee, led by Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff last year, highlighted that despite the Covid-19 pandemic having emerged three years ago, US intelligence agencies had not yet made the necessary changes to improve their ability to anticipate and warn of future global health crises.
To address this issue, Avril Haines stated that the intelligence community has intensified its focus on global health. Efforts include appointing a senior official responsible for coordinating intelligence work related to global health issues, allocating additional resources, and strengthening collaboration with organizations like the Centers for Disease Control. However, Haines emphasized the need to seek external expertise and perspectives, as the government alone cannot fully address the challenges at hand. Accordingly, experts from non-governmental institutions, including scientists, have been involved in investigations related to the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic and incidents impacting US personnel abroad, such as the Havana Syndrome.
Collaboration between intelligence agencies and external entities presents challenges, as many academics are reluctant to be associated publicly with the intelligence community. Haines, who has resisted attempts by Republican lawmakers to disclose the names of those consulted on Covid-19, noted that fostering fruitful exchanges can be complicated.
The emphasis on increased intelligence sharing is part of the broader declassification trend pursued by the Biden administration. Unprecedented levels of formerly classified information have been made available to raise awareness of Russia’s plans in Ukraine, as well as its efforts to acquire weapons from China, Iran, and North Korea.
Through this revised National Intelligence Strategy, US spy agencies are adapting to address emerging transnational threats effectively. As threats continue to evolve and global challenges mount, intelligence agencies must remain dynamic and seek collaborations with various stakeholders to safeguard national security. By rethinking information exchange practices and partnering with external groups, they can enhance their ability to anticipate, detect, and counteract multifaceted risks that transcend traditional geographical and sectoral boundaries.
