The Future of Five Eyes: Is U.S. Trust Breaking the World’s Top Spy Network?

 

America's Five Eyes allies are losing Faith in U.S. intelligence under Trump

Imagine a terror plot brewing, but it gets stopped cold before you ever hear a word about it. Not because someone got lucky—but because trusted allies had each other’s backs. That’s the kind of muscle behind the Five Eyes. It’s this low-key but insanely powerful intel-sharing squad made up of the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. They swap secrets, track threats, and have each other’s six. And thanks to that, Americans have dodged danger more times than most people realize.

     Here’s just one example: In 2017, it was a tip from Australian intelligence—shared through Five Eyes—that helped thwart a planned terrorist bombing in an Etihad flight out of Sydney. That one piece of shared intel prevented a mass-casualty disaster. The point? This alliance saves lives. Real lives. And it does so because it’s built on a foundation of mutual trust, tight coordination, and years of shared risk.

     Which is exactly why what's happening now is so alarming.

     Under Donald Trump, that trust is wobbling. His open criticism of America’s closest allies, his coziness with Russia, and his reported concerns about intelligence leaks have spooked Five Eyes partners. Some have started quietly asking the hard question: Can we still trust Washington? If the answer shifts from “yes” to “maybe,” that’s a massive red flag.

     Five Eyes isn’t just some polite handshake between countries—it’s the brain and backbone of Western intelligence. It’s where the U.K.’s high-tech signals data links up with boots-on-the-ground info from the U.S., where Australia keeps tabs on Chinese warships, and where Canada or New Zealand can get into spots others can’t. Yank one piece out, and the whole setup starts to wobble.

     And now the cracks are starting to show. There’ve been real leaks—big ones. A “signal blunder” here, a security screw-up there. This isn’t just egg on someone’s face—it’s risky stuff. When allies start holding back their best intel or keeping key sources to themselves, the whole network takes a hit. The flow of information slows down. Early warnings get missed. Covert ops and spy networks get exposed. And you know who’s grinning from ear to ear when that happens? Russia. China. North Korea. Iran. 

     Even in fiction, this dynamic matters. In my Corey Pearson—CIA Spymaster Series, Corey and his elite team often depend on intelligence from Five Eyes partners. A CIA op in the Pacific might hinge on an Aussie satellite intercept. A British informant in Iran could save a mission in Lebanon. These storylines mirror real-world operations, where interdependence isn't a luxury—it's survival.

     What we’re seeing now could be the start of things coming apart. Europe and other allies are already looking at doing their own thing when it comes to intel—just in case. They’re nervous about what an unpredictable Washington might pull next. And the shakier the U.S. looks, the more those partners start playing it safe and keeping their distance.

     Here’s the raw truth: if the U.S. turns into the weak link, the Five Eyes could crack—and if that happens, we all lose. You can’t go it alone in 21^st-century espionage. Threats move too fast, and they don’t care about borders.

     Now, in theory, this mess could be fixed. Trust could be rebuilt. The U.S. could step up, calm nerves, and prove it still plays by the old rules—loyalty, respect, shared risk. But let’s be real: it doesn’t look like the Trump administration’s headed that way. If anything, the damage might already be setting in. And if that trust keeps slipping, there might not be any way to pull things back.

     Right now, the Five Eyes alliance is still holding together—but it’s feeling the heat. The other countries are watching the U.S. closely, wondering if they can still count on us. This isn’t just about collecting intel from allies—it’s about proving we’re trustworthy enough to deserve it. In the world of spying, trust is everything. And once you break it, no amount of tech, satellites, or spy gadgets can fix what’s lost. 

Robert Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) and writes about the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC). He also writes the Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster Series, which blends his knowledge of real-life intelligence operations with gripping fictional storytelling. His thrillers reveal the shadowy world of covert missions and betrayal with striking realism.