The South Korean government has abruptly postponed signing a military intelligence agreement with Japan in response to anti-Japanese sentiment.
* On November 23rd, Japan and South Korea signed their first military intelligence agreement that, according to the Korean government-owned Yonhap news agency, will allow the two countries to "better cope with evolving North Korean missile and nuclear threats despite historical animosities".
Current intelligence sharing agreements are thought to expand the US-UK intelligence arrangements further still — with some recent secret intelligence sharing activity having been judged to have been illegal prior to December 2014, after details emerged in the wake of NSA Whistleblower Edward Snowden's 2013 disclosures.
But the Labor leader, Bill Shorten, reacted cautiously to news of the intelligence sharing agreement with Tehran.
For more than 60 years, the secret patchwork of spying arrangements and intelligence-sharing agreements that makes up the Five Eyes alliance has remained obfuscated by the states that it benefits – Australia, the US, Canada, New Zealand and the UK.
The case has put a spotlight on international intelligence-sharing agreements that have long been praised by officials as vital links in the global fight against terrorist groups, but that rights advocates criticize as a way for Britain and other European countries to reap the benefits of the contentious drone program without its political costs.
Australia is also a member of the UKUSA signals intelligence gathering agreement.
On Sunday, it emerged that Russia, along with Iran, Iraq and Syria would partake in an intelligence gathering agreement to fight the so-called Islamic State.
"Vimont conveyed that the French president will express his frustration that Washington has backed away from its proposed bilateral intelligence cooperation agreement and Sarkozy intends to continue to push for closure," the report said.
In contrast to the failing American military program to train "moderate" Syrian rebels; Putin has sent missiles, tanks and airforce into Syria, as well as signed an intelligence sharing agreement regarding ISIS with Syria, Iran and Iraq.
