What is the primary goal of counterintelligence activities?

The primary goal of counterintelligence activities is to protect against espionage and intelligence threats. This encompasses various measures taken to safeguard sensitive information from being accessed or exploited by adversaries. Counterintelligence focuses on identifying, thwarting, and neutralizing the efforts of foreign intelligence services and other entities that aim to collect or compromise classified information.

The essence of counterintelligence lies in its proactive nature, which includes detecting potential spies, preventing unauthorized information leaks, and securing both personnel and operational integrity. In doing so, it ensures that an organization can operate effectively without the risk of having its secrets undermined by external or insider threats.

In contrast, conducting offensive operations against enemy spies, gathering intelligence on foreign military units, and promoting international intelligence cooperation all serve different functions within the broader intelligence community but do not primarily address the focus of counterintelligence or its protective measures.