A growing divide between Washington and its international allies has deepened amid reports that several of the United States’ closest intelligence partners are considering withholding sensitive information from their U.S. counterparts. The shift is largely a result of President Donald Trump’s increasingly friendly stance toward Russia, raising concerns about compromising agents and foreign assets.

The tension escalated after Trump called for Russia’s readmission to the G7 group of nations and, more recently, as the U.S. paused its intelligence sharing with Ukraine. This move has sparked panic among European leaders, who fear that they may no longer be able to rely on U.S. protection and security guarantees, particularly in the face of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

In response to these growing concerns, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that he is ready to discuss extending France’s nuclear umbrella to European allies. He also announced plans to host a meeting with army chiefs from various European countries, some of which are considering sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine if a peace deal is reached.

The widening rift between the U.S. and its allies was highlighted when multiple sources, including reports from NBC, revealed that countries such as Israel, Saudi Arabia, and members of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance—Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and the U.S.—are contemplating revisions to the protocols for sharing intelligence with Washington. These discussions are reportedly being influenced by Trump’s conciliatory approach to Russia, which has raised concerns among the U.S.’s partners.

Sources revealed that some allies are worried about the potential risks involved in sharing sensitive intelligence with a U.S. administration that appears to be forging closer ties with Moscow. These concerns are compounded by an incident from Trump’s first term, where he was accused of sharing highly classified intelligence about ISIS with the Russian foreign minister during a meeting in the Oval Office. The information, which originated from a third country, was not authorized to be shared due to fears that revealing the source could put it in jeopardy.

Trump’s administration has justified its warming relations with Russia as a strategic move aimed at bringing Moscow to the negotiating table and ending the ongoing war in Ukraine. A spokesperson for the National Security Council insisted that Trump remains committed to U.S. security and its intelligence-sharing initiatives.

“The U.S. has unrivaled intelligence capabilities, which is why intelligence-sharing initiatives such as the Five Eyes exist,” said Brian Hughes, a spokesman for the NSC. “President Trump is clear-eyed on all threats our adversaries pose to our national security.”

However, the White House confirmed that it had paused intelligence sharing with Ukraine earlier this week. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz told reporters that the U.S. is “reviewing all aspects” of its relationship with Ukraine. This came shortly after Washington also halted military aid to Kyiv, following a public disagreement between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting at the White House.

As the U.S. and its European allies grapple with these developments, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has attempted to serve as a mediator, downplaying the idea that the two sides are at odds. He stressed the importance of maintaining strong ties with the U.S., stating that the U.S. remains a crucial ally, and he is working to “get the U.S. and European allies onto the same page” to ensure that the focus remains on securing lasting peace in Ukraine.

This deepening divide between Washington and its allies marks a critical moment in the transatlantic relationship, with profound implications for intelligence sharing, military support, and the future of international cooperation in the face of the ongoing geopolitical crisis in Ukraine.

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