Under decree, MIT reorganizes into separate units for domestic, foreign intelligence

A secret government decree restructuring Turkey's intelligence organization into domestic and foreign intelligence departments has been officially published, according to media reports. Under the decree, two separate intelligence departments to deal with domestic and foreign intelligence have been formed within the National Intelligence Organization (MIT), and MIT head Hakan Fidan will have two assistants responsible for intelligence – one for domestic intelligence, one for foreign – up from the current one deputy undersecretary for intelligence. Security intelligence and counter-intelligence units will be subordinated to the First Intelligence Department, while Strategic Intelligence and Open Sources units will operate under the Second Intelligence Department. As part of its new vision, the MIT is now putting more focus on foreign intelligence. As the center of gravity for MIT intelligence shifts, it will keep a close watch on 10 critical areas for the future of the international community, along with their economic, political, cultural and demographic aspects. The MIT will also closely follow areas rich in energy resources and their alternatives. In May, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said foreign intelligence is the MIT's primary duty. Pointing to efforts to restructure the MIT, Erdogan said at the time that the MIT was the most important foreign intelligence source for top state officials. Turkey must make the MIT much more active and result-oriented in foreign intelligence, he said.