How does counterintelligence protect a country's armed forces and intelligence agencies?

Counterintelligence serves as a vital defensive and security function designed to protect a nation’s armed forces, government, and intelligence agencies from foreign penetration. Its primary objective is to detect, counteract, and prevent espionage, sabotage, and other clandestine activities, such as terrorism or assassinations, conducted by foreign powers or organizations.123

To maintain the secrecy of intelligence operations, counterintelligence employs several protective strategies:

• Deterrence and Prevention: It works to identify and stop foreign agents from infiltrating sensitive military or intelligence sectors.23
• Operational Manipulation: Agencies may place "moles" or double agents within an adversary's intelligence services to manipulate their operations.2
• Technology and Asset Protection: It is tasked with safeguarding advanced technology and critical information from being compromised.2
• Intelligence Gathering: Counterintelligence operations can produce "positive intelligence" by uncovering the specific tools, techniques, and interests of foreign intelligence services.2

By identifying the capabilities and intentions of hostile actors, counterintelligence ensures that a nation can effectively thwart threats before they succeed.23