FIVE EYES

What Does Five Eyes Mean?

The Quick Answer

Five Eyes is Anglophone Intelligence Alliance.

More Detail...

The Five Eyes intelligence alliance is made up of five Anglophone countries: the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. These countries share signals intelligence (SIGINT) and collaborate on security matters. The Five Eyes (or 5 eyes) alliance is a collaboration between five English-speaking countries: the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The participating agencies for each country are:

Australia: Australian Signals Directorate (ASD)
Canada: Communications Security Establishment (CSE)
New Zealand: Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB)
United Kingdom: Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ)
United States: National Security Agency (NSA)

These agencies work together closely, sharing information and resources to monitor and respond to global threats and security challenges. Although criticized by some for potential privacy infringements, the Five Eyes alliance stands as a symbol of cooperation in the intelligence community. It demonstrates how shared values and trust among nations can lead to effective collaboration in a complex and ever-changing world.

Image for Five Eyes

When I write Five Eyes, I mean this:

"Anglophone Intelligence Alliance"

Summary of Key Points

"Anglophone Intelligence Alliance" is, by far, the most common meaning for Five Eyes when it is used in a text. (Bear in mind that it could have another meaning if used in a different context.)