Haines stresses rebuilding intelligence alliances post-Trump

Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines said Monday that the Biden administration will have to work to reestablish relationships with allies that took a hit under the Trump administration.

“We do have to rebuild some trust with allies … and that’s an issue that the policymakers obviously are focused on,” she told The Hill’s Steve Clemons at the Future of Defense Summit.

Haines added that it is “increasingly important for us to invest in those partnerships to make sure that we’re working with our partners and allies across a range of issues.”

Former President Trump had a penchant for dismissing the U.S. intelligence community’s assessments, but he was also viewed as a risk by allies after he shared Israeli intelligence about an Islamic State plot with high ranking Russian officials.

Haines said rebuilding alliances would ensure not only that intelligence services don’t replicate each other’s efforts but “work together and really lay out a common picture” for decisionmakers, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom — all participants in the Five Eyes Agreement to share intelligence among each other and the U.S.  

The need to rely and contribute to alliances was echoed by Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), who has been a vocal critic of Trump.

“My advice to the Biden administration on tone is basically keep doing what you’re doing. I think they have brought down the rhetoric on foreign policy a lot. I think the restoration of alliances is going to be important to show people in the United States the importance of an alliance. We’re very important for NATO; NATO’s also really important for us,” he said.