UK Suspends Intelligence Sharing with US : The United Kingdom has reportedly suspended sharing certain intelligence with the United States regarding suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean. This rare public strain on the “special relationship” is due to significant concerns over the legality of the US military’s lethal strikes against these boats.
UK Suspends Intelligence Sharing with US Key Details and Reasons for Suspension
- Action Taken: The UK has halted the exchange of intelligence, particularly maritime surveillance data, vessel coordinates, and communication intercepts, related to counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean.
- Core Reason: Concern over International Law: British officials are reportedly concerned that the US military strikes violate international law and could constitute extrajudicial killings. They fear that continuing to provide intelligence would make the UK complicit in actions they view as illegal.
- Context of US Strikes: The suspension followed a US military campaign, which began in September, involving lethal air and sea strikes against suspected drug-running vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. These strikes have reportedly resulted in at least 76 deaths in over a dozen attacks.
- Shift in US Strategy: Historically, UK intelligence helped the US Coast Guard intercept vessels, seize drugs, and detain crews for legal prosecution. The US administration has now designated some drug cartels as “foreign terrorist organizations” and is justifying the use of lethal military force by classifying the conflict as an “armed conflict” against “enemy combatants.”
- International View: The UK’s position aligns with the assessment of the UN human rights chief, Volker Türk, who condemned the US actions as a violation of international law.
- UK’s Previous Role: The UK, which maintains several overseas territories and intelligence assets in the Caribbean, was a key partner in tracking and interdicting drug vessels.
Ramifications
- Diplomatic Rift: The move marks a significant rupture in the intelligence partnership, especially within the Five Eyes alliance, though overall intelligence sharing channels (e.g., Five Eyes, NATO) remain mostly operational. The suspension is viewed as a narrow, targeted freeze—a “firewall, not a divorce.”
- International Alignment: Other allies, notably Canada and Colombia, have also reportedly distanced themselves from the US’s lethal strike policy.
- US Position: The US maintains that its actions fully comply with the Law of Armed Conflict and are necessary to combat an imminent threat posed by what it calls “narco-terrorists.”