The fight against terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their vectors have become global defence and security issues and two major challenges for the DGSE. As a fact, terrorism and proliferation are not only threats to French interests, they also generate regional instability and international crises. The destabilizing effect of terrorism and proliferation on international security is all the more important as they develop in and originate from zones of tension.
The challenge represented by the fight against terrorism, considered to be a real strategic threat, leads the DGSE to constantly adapt its capabilities to keep up with the ever-changing diversity of terrorist operating methods, the extension of Jihad networks, a complex and evolving phenomenon and the extent and multiplication of terrorist actions.
The fight against proliferation is also a major global security issue and a key challenge for the DGSE. It particularly involves the close monitoring of proliferating programmes, the States that develop these programmes, but also of the countries or entities that supply these States with the necessary technology, savoir-faire and financing.
In order to take up these challenges and take into account the risks involved, it is essential to keep on developing capabilities to anticipate and gain knowledge, but also to adapt and swiftly react. For that purpose, the DGSE is in charge of collecting intelligence, issuing threat assessments and analysis, conducting interdiction actions by complementing its capabilities with national and international cooperation.