Abstract

The article approaches intelligence and security cooperation using literature analysis and aims to identify the facilitating and limiting factors and to improve this process. It begins by defining the key concepts, by highlighting the need, benefits and the historical landmarks of cooperation. Next, it examines the cooperation relationship between influential and dependent states that become imperative given the major historical events, insufficient borders, the intelligence organizations’ impossibility to cover the world, the international security unpredictability and the strategic interests. It concludes that factors like: political stability, resources, communication infrastructure, similar national values and security interests, history, trust, focus, enabling intelligence sharing, professionalism, feedback, respect and equal treatment would facilitate this cooperation, while the absence of these factors would limit it.