The United Kingdom has reportedly suspended some intelligence sharing with the United States amid concerns over its potential implication in a controversial U.S. military campaign involving lethal strikes against suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean.
The intelligence pause, which began more than a month ago, marks a significant break between the two close allies. British officials reportedly agree with the international consensus that the strikes, which have killed at least 76 people, are illegal and amount to extrajudicial killings, according to CNN.
For years, the UK has supported America’s counter-narcotics efforts by providing intelligence that helps the U.S. Coast Guard interdict and seize vessels. This information was traditionally shared with the Joint Interagency Task Force South based in Florida.
However, after the Trump administration began authorizing deadly military strikes against these boats in September, British officials grew concerned that their intelligence could be used to select targets for lethal attacks.
“ The UK is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal,” sources familiar with the matter told CNN.
The strikes represent a major shift in U.S. policy. The Trump administration justified the attacks by designating certain drug cartels as “foreign terrorist groups” and their operatives as “enemy combatants” engaged in an “armed conflict” with America.
A classified memo from the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel reportedly reinforces this legal argument, allowing the U.S. to bypass traditional due process for those targeted. This stance has sparked sharp criticism.
Volker Türk, the United Nations’ human rights chief, said last month that the strikes “violate international law and amount to extrajudicial killing.” Sources confirmed to CNN that the UK government concurs with this assessment.
The controversy has also created tension within the Pentagon. Admiral Alvin Holsey, commander of U.S. Southern Command, reportedly offered to resign after a tense meeting with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, having questioned the legality of the strikes. Additionally, lawyers within the Department of Defense’s Office of General Counsel have raised concerns about the operations.
The UK is not the only ally distancing itself from this U.S. campaign. Canada, another key intelligence partner in the region, has also expressed reservations. While Canadian officials continue coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard, they have made it clear that they do not want their intelligence used to target boats for deadly strikes, sources told CNN.
A spokesperson for Canada’s defense ministry emphasized that its joint operations “are separate and distinct” from the U.S. military strikes.
This growing resistance from close allies highlights broader concerns over the legal and ethical implications of the U.S. military’s counter-narcotics strategy in the Caribbean.
https://www.nysun.com/article/u-k-halts-intelligence-sharing-with-america-over-lethal-strikes-in-caribbean-report
