Information and External Security Agency (Italy)

AISE was created during the 2007 Italian intelligence services reform . In accordance with Law No. 124 of August 3, 2007, the Military Information and Security Service ( Italian: Servizio per le Informazioni e la Sicurezza Militare , SISMI) was liquidated, the foreign intelligence functions were assigned to AISE, accountable to the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy ^[1] .

The main tasks of AISE, in accordance with Art. 6 of Law 124/2007, is the collection and processing of information in order to protect the independence, territorial integrity and security of Italy from external threats, including those related to the implementation of international agreements .

AISE also fights against the illegal distribution of nuclear materials and technologies and other strategic materials, carries out information activities outside the national territory in order to protect Italy’s political, military, economic, scientific and industrial interests, as well as to identify and suppress espionage activities outside the national territory against Italy and other actions aimed at the detriment of its national interests.

AISE may carry out activities outside the national territory of Italy, understood as its territory, air or sea space, as well as in Italian embassies abroad.

According to Law 124/2007, AISE is not entitled to conduct operations in Italy, unless it is absolutely necessary to carry out its activities. In this case, according to Law 124/2007, AISE operations are carried out in the country only in coordination with AISI , under the supervision of the Director General of the Information and Security Department .

According to article 6, paragraph 5 of Act 124/2007, AISE is headed by a director who reports to the Italian Prime Minister , who, in turn, is responsible for general management and is responsible for the overall security policy. AISE constantly interacts with the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Interior on their competencies.

AISE Director is appointed and dismissed by decree of the Prime Minister, who carries out this appointment after consultation with CISR - Interdepartmental Committee for Security of the Republic . The term of office of an AISE Director is four years, and may be extended for another term. The Director of AISE has three deputies appointed and dismissed by the Prime Minister after consultation with the Director. Other appointments are made by the AISE Director on his own.

• Admiral Bruno Branciforte (August 4, 2007 - February 24, 2010), former director of SISMI ^[2] ;
• General Adriano Santini, since February 25, 2010.

Law 124/2007 stipulates that the Information and Security Division of the General Staff (RIS) of the Ministry of Defense, which operates in the field of security of the Italian armed forces abroad, works closely with AISE in matters relating to intelligence as a whole and, in part, to counterintelligence .

• Agency for Internal Information and Security (Italy)

• Official site (Italian)