Geopolitical Intelligence

Assessing a nation's regional and international power potential, as well as its territorial objectives, through the acquisition of information relating to its geographic location, natural resources, and natural and unnatural borders. The information gathered as a result of geopolitical intelligence is used to project how states are likely to interact in attaining and defending their territorial interests, thereby enabling the end user to more effectively respond to changes and events.

A geopolitical intelligence assessment of a state might consider, for example, whether the state has access to waterways that would allow it to increase its force-projection capabilities and require the state to expend resources to secure shipping lanes. It also might be important to examine a state's indigenous sources of energy and ascertain whether that state must rely on energy imports to sustain its energy needs. In addition, border disputes for reasons of nationalist irredentism—a desire to expand to capture resources such as oil or fresh aquifers—also would be included in a geopolitical intelligence assessment.

Geopolitical intelligence can be contrasted with political intelligence and economic intelligence. Political intelligence considers a state's political leadership, population, history, religion, culture, language, and current developments. Economic intelligence [Page 288]examines a state's economic stability, income, employment, banking sector, and trade policies.