FBI Director Kash Patel says he has built new law enforcement partnerships with China and Russia over the past year to combat transnational crime, including fentanyl trafficking, cyber fraud, and child sexual exploitation.
The arrangements involve personnel exchanges, with Chinese officials visiting the U.S. and FBI agents traveling to China to work joint cases and share intelligence. The two sides have also conducted joint raids and arrests.
The current relationship began with President Trump’s visit to China in May 2025 and was followed by two trips by Patel. Cooperation now spans four working groups: cyber fraud, violent crimes against children, counternarcotics, and a fugitive task force.
Chinese officers visit U.S. FBI facilities every month, and American agents also travel to China. “They are speaking with us daily, which has also never happened before,” Patel said.
Months of behind-the-scenes collaboration with Russia have targeted violent criminal networks. “This stuff doesn’t happen overnight,” Patel said. “We’ve been at this for 15 months.”
Patel said the same approach could be used with other non-traditional partners. “The fact that we did it with China, when everyone said, ‘Don’t do it,’ and, ‘You can’t do it,’ shows what we can do with almost anyone.”
