By John Q. Hosedrinker 
The United Kingdom has ceased sharing intelligence with the United States regarding suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean due to concerns about the legality of U.S. military strikes. The UK believes these attacks, which have resulted in numerous fatalities, violate international law and could potentially be using intelligence provided by the British to select targets. This decision marks a significant shift in the UK’s relationship with its closest intelligence-sharing ally. Canada, another key US ally, has also distanced itself from the military strikes and has made it clear that they do not want their intelligence being used to help target boats for deadly strikes.
Read the original article here
UK suspends some intelligence sharing with US over boat strike concerns in major break. This is a big deal, no two ways about it. The United Kingdom, one of the closest allies the United States has ever had, has decided to pull back on sharing intelligence, specifically about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean. The core reason? They’re concerned about being complicit in US military strikes, and they believe those strikes are illegal. This is not just a disagreement; it’s a fundamental breach in a relationship built on decades of mutual trust and intense intelligence cooperation. Think about the closeness of their intelligence sharing – it’s historically unparalleled, requiring an enormous amount of faith and understanding between both nations.
UK suspends some intelligence sharing with US over boat strike concerns in major break. Now, to understand the gravity of this, imagine how much the UK values its reputation on the world stage. They don’t want to be seen as supporting actions that could potentially lead to legal trouble down the road. They don’t want to share intelligence because they’re worried they could become liable in international court. They seem to be saying, “We’re out,” essentially. There’s a real worry that in the future, people will face consequences for these strikes. This is a clear signal that the UK has significant reservations, and it’s a move that indicates a serious breakdown in trust.
UK suspends some intelligence sharing with US over boat strike concerns in major break. You can bet this isn’t the first time the UK intelligence services have felt uneasy about sharing with this administration. It leads you to wonder about the potential for further declines in cooperation. The concern is, who knows what information might get leaked or shared inappropriately? This is a fundamental challenge to the way these alliances work. The UK is making a judgment call based on what they see as a violation of international law. The fact that the UK’s decision to stop sharing intelligence is specifically tied to these boat strikes speaks volumes about their assessment of their legality.
UK suspends some intelligence sharing with US over boat strike concerns in major break. Essentially, the UK is saying they don’t want to be in the same boat as the United States on this. It seems that they’re prioritizing their legal standing and international reputation over maintaining this specific level of intelligence cooperation. This situation highlights a broader concern that extrajudicial killings are a violation of international law and it should be noted that there’s a strong sentiment that this administration’s actions are actively destabilizing relationships and that the US has earned this outcome.
UK suspends some intelligence sharing with US over boat strike concerns in major break. The implication of this intelligence-sharing suspension is, as a former official put it, it’s like a company hired to fix a roof but ends up taking an axe to other things and then the whole family stands around watching and casually chatting about when the roof will be fixed. Trust is earned in drops and lost in buckets, indeed. The fact that the UK controls territories in the Caribbean and has helped the US locate vessels in the past underscores how significant this shift is.