The U.S. Secret Service and the Australian Federal Police signed a memorandum of understanding last week creating a new basis for interagency and international collaboration and information sharing on transnational crime.
“The Secret Service is honored to join our partners at the Australian Federal Police in signing this arrangement,” Deputy Director Ronald Rowe said. “Collaboration between law enforcement agencies is essential to fighting transnational crime, and this framework will help us foster a stronger working relationship while accomplishing shared goals.”
Now, the agencies will work on coordinated operations, sharing law enforcement information, building cooperative networks and helping one another build capacity and develop professionally. Consultations, training, operational support and more will be on the table. In the end, they hope this will form a foundation to help disrupt and tear down threats to both countries.
That said, the MOU is not a legally binding international agreement. Both agencies will still be subject to and superseded by domestic laws and policies, as well as their international obligations.