Trump's Impact on the Five Eyes and Beyond

Trump’s Impact on the Five Eyes and Beyond

Posted: October 4th, 2019

By Marc Polymeropoulos

Marc Polymeropoulos served 26 years in the CIA before retiring from the Senior Intelligence Service in June 2019. His positions included field and headquarters operational assignments covering the Middle East, Europe, Eurasia and CounterTerrorism. He is the recipient of the Distinguished Intelligence Medal, the Intelligence Commendation Medal, and the Intelligence Medal of Merit.

OPINION — As we digest the Trump administration’s unorthodox style of governing in the foreign affairs arena, it is worth focusing on a key aspect of our bilateral relationships that does not get much press, the effect of President Trump on our foreign intelligence service liaison partners. How they approach the Trump dynamic is quite remarkable and may be somewhat surprising to the American people.

Our liaison partners are challenged daily by the president’s tweets, via personal insults aimed at world leaders or by the overturning of the fundamental world order, reflecting what many see as a zero sum and often disjointed approach to foreign policy. As such, I liken our liaison partners’ reaction to Trump – both forced and reactive – to dancing through the raindrops.

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