PROPOSSALS FOR A COOPERATION IN INTELLIGENCE ISSUES

Abstract

Cooperation in the intelligence field, has been a matter of undeniable complexity in all times, notwithstanding sources and methods commitment risks, existing suspicion between allies that may become enemies, and the unavoidable mistrust still existing between intelligence bodies within the country itself, has experienced significant growth in the last few decades as a result of the emergence of global threats such as terrorism and transnational organized crime among others, and the development of regional and sub regional integration processes, with the subsequent development of common interests.

Latin America has witnessed essential changes in this field. From past hemispheric-wide cooperation to fight against international communist movements, intelligence cooperation is now focused on public security issues in sub regions, supported basically by different mechanisms, but based on each sub region’s specific needs. Today, UNASUR proposes the possibility and the challenge to develop institutionalized intelligence cooperation mechanisms, both in the fields of defense and of public security. This articler explores the history of intelligence cooperation in the region, along with the new opportunities/challenges