NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
Invisible Diplomats: Intelligence Agencies in International Law and Foreign Policy
- 1 University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
Abstract
Intelligence agencies have evolved from covert security instruments into strategic diplomatic actors that influence negotiations, alliances, and international legal processes. This paper explores the role of intelligence in foreign relations, examines its interaction with international law, and analyzes the legal and ethical dilemmas posed by covert diplomacy. Through selected case studies—including Mossad’s backchannel operations prior to the Abraham Accords and the CIA’s Cold War contributions—the study highlights how intelligence can stabilize crises while simultaneously challenging norms of sovereignty and non-intervention. The paper proposes a conceptual model for understanding intelligence as a diplomatic tool within contemporary global governance.
Keywords
References
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