However, the opening of the legat office is unlikely to signal any US intention to increase its global policing footprint. The framing of the legat office as a geostrategic initiative to counter Chinese influence could challenge such arrangements. Moreover, the framing of the Wellington office combined with the DEA retreat in Southeast Asia may cause regional partners to think the US is allocating policing resources for signalling purposes rather than joint-policing initiatives. For their part, Canberra and Wellington should continue to highlight the benefits of, and successes from, working with regional partners—including China. This can ensure that an important asset such as an FBI legat doesn’t become a strategic liability to policing.