FIVE EYES INTELLIGENCE ALLIANCE

Recent allegations made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau linking the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil to the Indian government have brought the intelligence-sharing alliance 'Five Eyes' into the spotlight. This alliance is believed to have provided crucial information that led Canada to accuse India of potential involvement in the assassination.

2. About The Five Eyes Network

• The 'Five Eyes' is a multilateral intelligence-sharing network comprising more than 20 different agencies from five English-speaking countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
• It operates in the domains of surveillance and signals intelligence (SIGINT), with shared intelligence documents classified as 'Secret—AUS/CAN/NZ/UK/US Eyes Only,' giving the alliance its name.

3. Historical Origins

• The roots of this intelligence alliance trace back to the Second World War when the United States and the United Kingdom collaborated to counter the Soviet threat of the Cold War.
• Their successful code-breaking efforts during the war led to a formalized cooperation agreement in 1946 known as the British-U.S. Communication Intelligence Agreement, or BRUSA (now the UKUSA Agreement).
• Initially limited to communication intelligence matters, this pact was later expanded to include Canada in 1948 and Australia and New Zealand in 1956.
• For decades, the existence of this alliance remained highly classified and undisclosed, with even high-ranking officials unaware of its details until the 1970s.
• It was officially acknowledged by governments by name only in 1999, and the text of the agreement was not released to the public until 2010.

Image Source: Graphic News

4. Functioning of the 'Five Eyes' Network

• Within the alliance, partner countries are assigned specific SIGINT mandates.
• For example, the United States focuses on Russia, northern China, most of Asia, and Latin America, while Australia covers southern China, Indo-China, and neighbouring regions.
• The UK takes charge in Africa and west of the Urals within the former Soviet Union, and New Zealand is responsible for the Western Pacific.
• Canada's responsibilities include the polar regions of Russia.
• Over time, the focus of the 'Five Eyes' has shifted beyond Cold War-era concerns, adapting to new global challenges such as terrorism and the rise of China.
• These countries have broadened their cooperation to encompass various areas, including ocean and maritime surveillance, scientific and defence intelligence analysis, medical intelligence, geospatial intelligence, counterintelligence, counterterrorism, and continuous information sharing through a secret collective database known as 'Stone Ghost.'

5. Five Eyes Intelligence Oversight and Concerns

• In September 2016, the Five Eyes Intelligence Oversight and Review Council (FIORC) was established as a non-political entity responsible for intelligence oversight, review, and security among member countries.
• This council promotes cooperation, shares best practices, explores collaborative opportunities, and maintains contact with non-Five Eyes nations.
• However, concerns have arisen over the years regarding the privacy, security, and methods employed by the alliance.
• A significant controversy erupted in 2013 when classified documents leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden revealed a mass surveillance program jointly operated by the Five Eyes to monitor their citizens.
• Snowden described the network as a "supranational intelligence organization that doesn't answer to the laws of its own countries."

6. Conclusion

• The Five Eyes Intelligence Alliance is a complex network of intelligence sharing with historical origins in countering Cold War threats.
• While it has evolved to address contemporary challenges, it has also faced scrutiny and criticism, particularly regarding its surveillance practices and transparency.

Source: The Hindu