A bombshell leak has sparked fears that the UK’s intelligence-sharing relationship with the US could be under threat. Leaked messages from Donald Trump’s inner circle, including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, have reportedly exposed classified war plans against Houthi rebels in Yemen. These leaked conversations raise serious concerns about the US administration’s competence, and whether MI6 should continue to share sensitive information with Washington.
In a series of troubling messages, top US officials casually discussed military strikes in Yemen on the encrypted messaging app, Signal. What’s more, journalist Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic was invited into this group, where he watched as senior officials shared details of their planned targets and weapons. In one eye-opening exchange, Vance expressed his disdain for “bailing Europe out again,” and Hegseth agreed, calling European support “pathetic.” These off-the-cuff remarks have left many questioning the reliability of US leadership on the world stage, and what it means for Britain’s security.
Professor Anthony Glees, a renowned European security expert, weighed in on the situation, warning of “devastating” security implications. He argued that the US leadership’s apparent ignorance of international alliances is playing into the hands of Russia and its leader, Vladimir Putin. “They are on his side here, and that’s a wake-up call to us,” Glees said. His concern: should the UK continue to trust intelligence-sharing with an administration that seems to be aligning with the Kremlin?
This unease has been compounded by recent remarks from the White House, where officials referred to Trump and Putin as “very good friends.” As Trump reportedly plans to “strengthen” relations with Russia, the UK’s intelligence agencies, including MI6 and GCHQ, are facing a difficult decision about the future of their cooperation with the US.
Historically, the UK has shared vast amounts of intelligence with the US through the Five Eyes alliance and a separate UK-USA Agreement. But with such a clear shift in US foreign policy, some experts are urging the UK to reconsider this partnership. If these leaks and troubling shifts in US policy continue, the stakes for British security could be too high.
The leaked messages have also raised eyebrows within the US itself, as Hegseth denied sharing military plans with the journalist but failed to address the broader implications of his actions. Instead, he lashed out at Goldberg, calling him a “deceitful” journalist. With tensions running high, it’s clear that both the UK and the US are facing crucial questions about how to navigate the increasingly murky waters of international intelligence cooperation.
