Thread by @uOttawaCIPS

And we also have Greg Fyffe’s thread coming up here, as posted by CIPS. #5EyesCIPS

The Five Eyes alliance has served the current partners well by giving them an expanded intelligence base. This benefit is enhanced by the opportunity for professional discussions amongst intelligence partner agencies. #5EyesCIPS

All five nations maintain bilateral relationships with other allies. Is there a case for expanding the Five Eyes itself to include some of these allies? My answer is yes. #5EyesCIPS

The coherence of the FVEY relationship rests on interwoven national histories and US security standards apply to all partners. #5EyesCIPS

Even without the same historical bonds, bringing additional partners into the alliance in some form would produce greater benefits than simply maintaining a network of bilateral relationships. #5EyesCIPS

Expanding the Five Eyes partnership to include other close allies could bring two gains. #5EyesCIPS

Gain (1) More high value intelligence could be shared with a wider group of allies, and there would be a greater variety in available assessment perspectives. Information-sharing would be faster and more systematic than through multiple bilateral arrangements. #5EyesCIPS

Gain (2) There would be an opportunity for more inclusive discussions on collection priorities, which could build a greater consensus on what is known /unknown as allies develop specific foreign policy directions. #5EyesCIPS

Since FVEY is primarily an intelligence sharing partnership, it has the institutional & technical structures for sharing large amounts of information. But, cooperation in collecting intelligence does not always translate into agreement on foreign policy directions. #5EyesCIPS

However, intelligence cooperation can help clarify the options for respective national policy officials by building a comprehensive picture of threats, and by identifying critical unknowns on the goals, capabilities, and openness to negotiations of rival powers. #5EyesCIPS

Terrorism & pandemics are intelligence preoccupations for current & potential partners. Critical info needed for insightful warning & analysis is held by many states. The more widely/quickly it can be distributed to partners, the more effective warnings can be. #5EyesCIPS

The same potential benefit exists for more complex geopolitical threats. Many countries are concerned about the implications of the possible emergence of two rival global blocks, one anchored by China and Russia, and the other by the FVEY partners and allies. #5EyesCIPS

Adding the intelligence perspective of countries such as Germany, France, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and many others, could generate more information on national strategies to reinforce the rules-based international order. #5EyesCIPS

There are obviously obstacles to widening the alliance. As an alliance grows, so do the difficulties of protecting highly sensitive intelligence, sources & methods. The greater variety of perspectives in a broader alliance can be both divisive & constructive. #5EyesCIPS

Associating other countries more regularly with FVEY partners can be done through an infinite range of gradual steps, from inviting specific countries to FVEY discussions, to facilitating the distribution of a limited range of intelligence reports or assessments. #5EyesCIPS

In sum - There are many advantages for an expanded FVEY sharing arrangement for all participants. This is certainly true for Canada. We have every reason to expand our intelligence relationships, and it would be easiest to pursue if it were a common Five Eyes strategy. #5EyesCIPS