An article summarized by Reuters:
FBI Director Kash Patel says the bureau has established new law enforcement partnerships with China and Russia to combat transnational crimes, including fentanyl trafficking, cyber fraud, and child sexual exploitation. The cooperation includes intelligence sharing, personnel exchanges, joint investigations, and coordinated law enforcement operations, with Patel recently visiting China and a trip to Russia tentatively planned for October.
Patel says the partnerships are narrowly focused on specific criminal threats and do not replace traditional intelligence alliances like the Five Eyes partnership. He pointed to operations such as a joint U.S.-China-Dubai raid that dismantled a cyber scam network, as well as cooperation that led to arrests tied to fentanyl precursor chemicals and an international child exploitation ring. According to Patel, the FBI has worked to ensure information sharing is limited and carefully monitored.
The initiative has drawn criticism from some current and former U.S. officials, who warn that working closely with China and Russia could create counterintelligence risks and provide opportunities for espionage. Patel acknowledged those concerns but argued the benefits of disrupting international criminal networks outweigh the risks, saying the FBI can engage with adversarial nations while protecting U.S. national security.
