foreign agents
Overseas intelligence personnel
Foreign agents are individuals or organizations acting on behalf of a foreign government or entity, often in political, intelligence, or influence operations.
The term carries connotations of covert activity and divided loyalty.
In U.S. law, foreign agents must register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act: The lobbyist was required to register as a foreign agent.
The designation can be politically charged—governments sometimes label domestic critics as foreign agents to discredit them.
- spiesSecret intelligence gatherers
- subversivesThose undermining established systems
- operativesThose who execute missions
- molesBurrowing insectivore mammals
- enemy of the statePerson opposed by government
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- security lawnational security, counterterrorism, classified information, security clearance, state secrets
- securitysecurity guard, security cameras, alarm system, security system, lock
- resistanceresistance, defiance, resistance fighters, civil resistance, resist
- Foreign Affairsdiplomatic relations, embassies, ambassadors, consulates, State Department
- corporate espionagetrade secrets, corporate spying, moles, formulas, infiltration
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