The BND, short for Bundesnachrichtendienst, is the foreign intelligence agency of Germany. Directly subordinated to the Chancellor’s Office, its responsibilities include gathering both military and civil intelligence. The BND acts as an early warning system to alert the German government to potential threats to its interests from abroad. Originally formed during the Cold War in 1956, the BND gathers a large amount of information on international non-state terrorism, weapons of mass destruction proliferation and illegal transfer of technology, organized crime, security of information technology and computer hacking, drugs and human trafficking, money laundering, and international organized crime.
Related Questions
1. How does BND gather intelligence?
The BND collects intelligence from a variety of sources. It uses human intelligence (agents on the ground), signals intelligence (electronically intercepted communications), open sources such as newspapers and broadcasts, and other technical methods to gather information.
2. Is BND like CIA of America?
Yes, just as the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is responsible for collecting and analyzing information about foreign governments, corporations, and individuals in order to help inform the national security policy of the United States, the BND performs the same functions for the government of Germany.
3. Can BND operate within Germany?
The BND is primarily an overseas intelligence agency. It is generally prohibited from conducting operations inside Germany unless it has specific permission, usually related to counter-terrorism efforts.
4. What is the budget of the BND?
The exact budget of the BND is a closely guarded government secret. However, it is estimated to be in the millions, and it is used to fund the agency’s various intelligence-gathering operations around the world.
5. Who oversees the BND?
The BND is directly subordinated to the Chancellor’s Office of Germany. It also faces scrutiny from a parliamentary control panel and is subject to law, like all other German government agencies.