Europe’s intelligence agencies seek closer ties with US

Intelligence agencies across Europe are moving toward closer cooperation, despite the traditionally entrenched distrust between them.

According to Politico, this shift is driven by the “capricious” policies of the United States under President Donald Trump toward its allies.

The main catalyst for strengthening collaboration, the report notes, was Washington’s refusal to share intelligence with Ukraine.

“There is a sense that there could be less commitment on the part of the United States in the months to come in sharing the intelligence they have — both inside NATO and at large,” former NATO assistant secretary-general Antonio Missiroli told the newspaper.

At the same time, distrust regarding intelligence cooperation between states and Brussels-based institutions remains, Politico observes.

The European Union is reportedly considering the creation of an intelligence alliance with “CIA-style” powers, while several countries prefer intergovernmental cooperation that bypasses the EU in these matters.

Additionally, major countries remain sceptical about the need for close ties with foreign intelligence services. This primarily concerns Germany, the Netherlands, France, and the United Kingdom, which has left the EU — nations that have seen little reason to share intelligence with other countries.

By Vugar Khalilov