| Summary/Abstract |
Intelligence is seen as an inherently sovereign matter. States are ready to share intelligence but on their own terms and only with friends or allies. This is the case for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU). Intelligence at the United Nations (UN) poses a twofold problem, both from the states’ and the organization’s perspectives. The worldwide composition of states with different political natures and domestic interests has long been identified as the main reason why states would not want to implement an intelligence structure at the UN. States do not wish to share secrets with all the countries in the world and refuse to allow other states to send troops to spy on their own governance. Moreover, the UN has long been associated with the concepts of neutrality and impartiality, which are perceived as antithetical to the activities of an intelligence bureau within the organization.
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