FBI Director Kash Patel travelled to Australia this week to meet with American personnel based in Canberra and strengthen cooperation with the country’s law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
The visit was part of a broader effort to reinforce international partnerships within the Five Eyes alliance, amid rising global security challenges.
During his meetings with senior Australian officials, Patel discussed key shared concerns including transnational organised crime, national security, and the growing influence of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). He highlighted the FBI’s commitment to countering threats through its long-standing partnerships in the region.
“For decades, the FBI has had personnel in Australia, and we’ve benefited from strong cooperation with our counterparts here,” said Director Patel.
“The PRC threat—not just to this region, but worldwide—was a key conversation during this visit. We are dedicated to tackling this growing challenge together.”
Patel’s quiet arrival in Sydney included a private dinner with Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke. He later travelled to New Zealand, where he officially opened a permanent FBI office in Wellington—the first in the country. The move signals a broader US intelligence and law enforcement push in the Indo-Pacific.
“The FBI cannot do it alone,” Patel said while inaugurating the new office.
“Our partners in the Five Eyes are our greatest allies, and we need all of them to focus on the mission.”
The Five Eyes alliance—comprising the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand—was established after World War II to enable intelligence sharing and joint responses to global security issues. FBI operations in the region are supported through Legal Attaché offices (Legats), facilitating joint investigations, intelligence exchange, and capacity-building initiatives.
The FBI said it remains committed to disrupting a range of threats including cybercrime, terrorism, money laundering, and foreign intelligence activity, with the support of trusted allies across the Five Eyes network.
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