Trump’s Russia Stance Sparks Global Spy Rift
U.S. allies are scaling back intelligence-sharing, fearing Trump’s ties to Russia compromise security. Even American intelligence officials question his allegiances, heightening global uncertainty.
Several of the United States' closest allies are reconsidering the scope of intelligence they share with Washington, citing unease over the Trump administration’s overtures toward Moscow, according to four individuals with direct knowledge of the discussions.
Officials from allied nations, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, and members of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance a consortium of English-speaking democracies are evaluating whether adjustments to existing intelligence protocols are necessary in response to what they perceive as an increasingly accommodating U.S. posture toward Russia.
“Those discussions are already happening,” said a source directly involved in the matter. However, no final decisions have been made, the sources said according to NBC News.
The potential recalibration reflects broader concerns within allied intelligence agencies about safeguarding sensitive sources and operational methods. Intelligence services are bound by an unspoken doctrine of absolute discretion regarding foreign agents, ensuring their safety and shielding their identities from exposure. Any compromise to that principle, former officials said, could severely erode trust and lead to a reluctance among allies to share critical intelligence with the United States.
The review of intelligence-sharing protocols is part of a larger reassessment of diplomatic, economic, and military ties with Washington, the sources said, as allies seek to gauge the long-term implications of the Trump administration’s approach to global alliances.
Western Allies Cut Ties: Trump’s Moscow Embrace Sparks Intelligence Exodus
Gunpowder Chronicles sources reveal 13 Western nations halted intelligence-sharing with Washington, citing Trump’s Russia ties. Even U.S. intelligence officials question his allegiances and security threats.
While the full extent of any U.S. policy shift toward Russia remains uncertain, multiple sources, including senior Western officials, told Gunpowder Chronicles on Thursday that at least 13 states within the Western intelligence bloc have already ceased sharing intelligence with Washington in the past two weeks. This decision, they said, is directly related to Trump’s arrival in the White House and the administration’s stance on Ukraine.
Concerns over the security of intelligence-sharing have also extended to counterterrorism efforts. Western intelligence agencies have significantly curtailed cooperation with the Trump administration on terrorism-related matters, sources said. Additionally, tensions within the U.S. intelligence community itself have intensified, with some American security officials voicing apprehension about the president’s character and foreign ties.
Trump’s relationships with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his public statements on Moscow’s role in global affairs have alarmed intelligence officials, leading even some of Washington’s closest partners such as Israel and Saudi Arabia to restrict the flow of intelligence. Despite Trump’s public rhetoric signalling a hardline stance against Iran, intelligence sources believe he is leveraging Russia as a shield to obscure his administration’s actual position on Tehran’s ruling establishment.
One senior intelligence source warned that Israel should proceed with extreme caution, particularly given what is widely assessed within intelligence circles: that Hamas has historically benefited from covert Russian support. According to sources familiar with the matter, the October 7 attack on Israel was executed with significant backing from Moscow, Tehran, and Damascus, raising suspicions that the operation was not merely an act of aggression but a broader effort to test Israel’s response capabilities and, by extension, Washington’s willingness to intervene.
Adding to these concerns, Russian officials have reportedly floated the idea of deploying Russian forces to Gaza, a move that would fundamentally alter the regional security landscape.
While Trump has publicly portrayed himself as a staunch ally of Israel, intelligence sources suggest that this may be a façade. Supporting Israel, they argue, would necessitate standing firmly against Iran. Yet Trump’s associations with Russia indicate that Tehran may have quietly forged an informal channel of influence within Washington, an assertion that, if true, could have far-reaching consequences for U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.
For now, U.S. intelligence partners remain wary, and discussions about revising intelligence-sharing protocols continue behind closed doors. Whether the Trump administration can assuage these concerns remains an open question, but the shifting landscape underscores an increasingly fragile intelligence alliance that once formed the backbone of Western security cooperation.
