Our Bureau
New Delhi
In a seismic shift in global alliances, a proposal to remove Canada from the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance has sent shockwaves through diplomatic and intelligence circles. This move, reportedly advocated by Peter Navarro, a senior adviser to US President Donald Trump, could have significant implications for India.
Canada’s potential exit could alter its diplomatic approach towards India. Recently, Canada used Five Eyes intelligence to accuse India of involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, claims India vehemently denies. Without Five Eyes support, Canada might find it harder to substantiate such allegations, potentially easing tensions between the two nations.
The Five Eyes alliance, comprising the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, has been a cornerstone of Western intelligence cooperation since World War II. Its disruption could embolden adversaries like China and Russia, as noted by former CIA official Dennis Wilder. For India, a weakened Five Eyes could mean less effective intelligence collaboration with key partners like the US and UK, potentially derailing efforts to expand the alliance to include India.
Trump’s America First approach prioritizes short-term leverage over long-term strategic cooperation, signaling a more transactional US stance on alliances. This shift could prompt many countries to reassess their reliance on US-led security frameworks. As India seeks closer intelligence ties with Five Eyes members, the potential fragmentation of the alliance poses risks to its own intelligence-gathering capabilities. The future of global intelligence sharing hangs in the balance as traditional alliances face unprecedented challenges.
