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FBI Director Cash Patel explicitly cited countering China's influence in the Pacific as the primary motivation for this initiative. Speaking during a recent press briefing, Patel emphasized that this new office reflects the FBI’s broader strategy to strengthen partnerships with allied nations in the region—namely New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and the UK—to better address transnational threats.
"The FBI is prioritizing a permanent presence across all five Ices," Patel declared, referring to the "Five Eyes" intelligence alliance. "This historic moment in Wellington underscores the importance of collaboration with New Zealand in tackling some of the world's most pressing issues, including cybercrime, organized crime, drug trafficking, and fraud."