Trump’s senior adviser on trade is proposing the U.S. cut Canada out of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, a group that also includes the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand.
Driving the news: Through the alliance, member countries have shared intelligence with each other to respond to national security threats. Per the Financial Times, the aim is to put pressure on Canada, though it's unclear if Trump supports the proposal.
Why it matters: Canada relies on the intel it receives from the U.S. Five Eyes intelligence even played a major role in supporting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s accusations that the Indian government was behind the murder of a Sikh separatist on Canadian soil.
- Canadian intelligence expert Jessica Davis says much of the country’s counterterrorism work is also driven by leads provided by the U.S.
- In 2019, two people were arrested on terrorism charges in Kingston, Ontario, as the direct result of an intelligence tip from the U.S.
Big picture: Trump has been highly critical of agreements where the U.S.’s financial contribution outweighs its allies, which could be the case here. The U.S. reportedly spends US$100 billion a year on intelligence, 10 times more than the other four countries combined.—LA