ABSTRACT
The sharing of intelligence–intelligence liaison–is increasingly important in globalised world. Liaison continued to play a role during the inter-war years, in particular the British–French–Polish attack on Germany’s Enigma machine. Intelligence liaison came into its own during the Second World War, with British–American intelligence exchanges laying the groundwork for further cooperation during the Cold War. Perhaps the most famous and wide-ranging example of intelligence liaison is the transatlantic special relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States. Moscow’s links to Warsaw Pact and Soviet-aligned governments around the world provided secure facilities for signals intelligence stations. Intelligence sharing is a cornerstone of the global ‘War on Terror’ with the US and its allies moving beyond traditional partnerships into the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Liaison forms an integral part of modern-day intelligence, yet officials and policymakers need to carefully balance the pros and cons.
