Why was the KGB compared with the CIA, FBI, and Secret Service combined?

The comparison of the KGB to a combination of the American CIA, FBI, and Secret Service arises from its unique integration of diverse security and intelligence roles into a single, powerful agency.1

While the CIA focuses primarily on foreign intelligence, the KGB’s mandate was far broader, encompassing both international espionage and extensive domestic responsibilities. Specifically, the KGB functioned as:21

• Foreign Intelligence Agency: Similar to the CIA, it conducted global espionage, infiltrated Western intelligence operations, and gathered technical and scientific information.21
• Domestic Security and Counterintelligence: Similar to the FBI, it was responsible for internal security, counterintelligence, and the surveillance of the Soviet population, including dissidents and intellectuals.21
• Protective Service: Similar to the Secret Service, it was tasked with the protection of the country’s political leadership.321

This centralization of foreign intelligence, internal security, and leadership protection under one organization was unusual compared to Western systems, where these functions are typically divided among separate agencies.1