Which countries use espionage?

Almost every country in the world has used espionage at one time or another. Notable secret intelligence agencies around the world include:

• Australia - Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO)
  
• Canada - Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS)
  
• France - Direction Generale de la Securité Exterieure (DGSE, General Directorate of External Security)
  
• Germany - Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND, Federal Intelligence Service)
  
• Israel - Mossad (formally the Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations)
  
• People's Republic of China - Ministry of State Security (Guoanbu) and 2nd Department of the People's Liberation Army (2PLA)
  
• Russia - Sluzba Vneshnei Razvedka (SVR, Foreign Intelligence Service) and Glavnoje Razvedyvatel'noje Upravlenije (GRU, Main Intelligence Directorate),
  
• United States - Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

The United Kingdom is also actively engaged in gathering secret intelligence. The Secret Intelligence Service (new window) (also known as MI6) is responsible for carrying out intelligence-gathering overseas on behalf of the British government. The Government Communications Headquarters (new window) (GCHQ) gathers electronic intelligence from its headquarters in Cheltenham.

Britain has friendly relations with many foreign intelligence services. Following the end of the Cold War, former adversaries have become valued colleagues who now work with us to combat shared threats such as international terrorism. The need to tackle terrorist networks that span continents requires effective cooperation on an international scale.

However, some countries are still actively spying on Britain. We estimate that at least 20 foreign intelligence services are actively operating against UK interests. Despite the end of the Cold War, the Russians and the Chinese are still heavily involved in espionage.