BLUF

The Five Eyes Intelligence arrangement is about sharing information between members, which members can then use to inform their own foreign policy.

Summary

The Five Eyes is an intelligence arrangement between Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK, and the US initiated in 1941. It is not designed to be a common foreign policy platform, but members have similar values and support a rules-based international order. Recently, member states raised concerns about the loss of democracy in Hong Kong and human rights in Xinyang China. New Zealand said it is uncomfortable with expanding the remit of the Five Eyes to comment on human rights issues. China claims this shows Five-Eyes is divided and anti-China despite Fives Eyes existing to share information (including information about China). Members use this shared information as they see fit. Five Eyes also provides a forum for generally liberal-democratic nations who have a common heritage and language to share information. Joint statements add value, but China labelling these statements as ‘Five Eyes statements’ does not capture the intent and reality of these statements.

Learn more about the importance of the Five Eyes Intelligence Agreement.

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