This paper will examine the recruitment cycle employed by adversaries of the United States in their espionage efforts, focusing on the tactics, targets, and countermeasures utilized in their operations. It will analyze the strategies employed by hostile intelligence agencies, non-state actors, and cybercriminal groups to identify, recruit, and handle individuals who can provide valuable information or access to sensitive assets.
Furthermore, the paper will explore the various targets of espionage recruitment by adversaries of the United States, including government officials, military personnel, private sector employees, and members of the academic and research communities. It will investigate the methods used to exploit vulnerabilities, coercion, and ideological alignment to recruit individuals with access to classified information or critical infrastructure. Moreover, the paper will discuss countermeasures and mitigation strategies employed by U.S. intelligence agencies and security organizations to detect, deter, and neutralize espionage recruitment efforts by adversaries.