Reuters reported that during Kash Patel’s tenure as head, the FBI began unprecedented cooperation with law enforcement agencies in China and Russia to combat transnational crimes; cooperation that, according to the outlet, has raised concerns about information security within the U.S. anti-espionage community.

According to the report, these collaborations include efforts against cyber fraud, trafficking in narcotics, crimes against children, and tracking fugitives, and Chinese and U.S. officials traveled to each other’s countries to jointly handle cases.

Reuters wrote that the FBI, China’s Ministry of Public Security, and Dubai Police, in a joint operation, detained 300 people, seized $300 million, and released thousands of victims of human trafficking.

However, former FBI officials have warned that this cooperation could enable China and Russia to infiltrate and gain access to sensitive U.S. security information.

Defending this approach, Kash Patel said the United States is aware of the hostile behavior of these countries, but if this cooperation benefits U.S. interests, then it should engage with them.