In Search of Britain / Australia and Allied Signals Intelligence

Mona Parra (université de Grenoble Alpes): Australia and Allied Signals Intelligence during World War Two

This paper investigates the role of Australia in the larger Allied signals intelligence organisation during the Second World War. The partnership of the UK and the US leading up to the 1946 BRUSA (now known as UKUSA) agreement has been well documented. The aim of this paper is to highlight the extensive cooperation which also existed with Australia in the field of signals intelligence (SIGINT). This country played a significant part in the Pacific war. A special emphasis will be placed on the sometimes fraught discussions on how to divide up tasks between the countries. This helps shed light on the relations between the three powers, on the issue of sovereignty, on the partnership between Australia and New Zealand, and on the respective influences of the British and US SIGINT agencies on their Allied counterparts. This paper will draw from research trips to the American, Australian, British, and New Zealand archives from May 2024 to March 2025.