Second Directorate of the National Defense Staff
Quick Summary
The Second Directorate of the National Defense Staff is a French intelligence agency focused on gathering foreign military intelligence for the French general staff. It is influenced by the traditions of the French army's old Deuxième Bureau. This agency is part of France's broader intelligence system, which includes the DGSE (General Directorate for External Security) and the DST (Directorate of Territorial Security). The DGSE, established in 1947 and restructured in 1981, handles foreign intelligence, counterespionage outside France, and overseas covert political intervention, operating under the defense ministry. The DST is responsible for internal security.12
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
