Ruben Azizian

I wouldn't overreact to Mr. Trump's impact and influence for a couple of reasons.

One is the U.S.

is still a democracy.

Secondly, I know that from a bureaucratic point of view, dissolving an organization is a very hard thing to do.

You can always find a reason for doing something else that will be based on common interests.

Five Eyes, I think it has its purpose.

I mean, intelligence is about collaboration between countries that trust each other.

historically, culturally, in terms of their military partnerships.

So to me, there is no sign yet that any of the five countries is moving away from that framework or political or military thinking.

So there will be tensions and issues.

Whether it continues to be five eyes or will be more eyes, I don't know.

For example, I expect more eyes rather than fewer eyes because if it is also about trying to understand, using a very mild term, and react to China, then there are other countries in immediate neighborhoods of China who wouldn't mind.

I'm thinking maybe Japan, for example, or France, potentially, who could be interested in some kind of engagement with five eyes.

And we'll come back to China.

When a small country is in an intelligence pool with some more influential, resourceful countries who want to share some intelligence information, generally speaking, it's an advantage for the smaller country, because the smaller country otherwise wouldn't necessarily have access.

Again, we know that not all of our information is spread equally.

There are issues there.

There are kind of firewalls and all of that, but still.

Secondly, small countries are generally interested in being part of some kind of multilateral arrangements because in a multilateral you have an opportunity to have your voice heard.

You can bring all these countries, leaders of intelligence communities to either Queenstown or somewhere.