US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard issued a directive prohibiting the sharing of intelligence on negotiations between Ukraine and Russia even with the closest allies, reported CBS News citing US intelligence officials.
In a memo dated July 20 and signed by Gabbard, agencies were instructed not to share information with the «Five Eyes» intelligence alliance, created after World War II. It includes the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
According to CBS sources, the directive classifies all information and analysis related to the negotiations as «NOFORN». This means it cannot be shared with other states or foreign nationals. The only exception remains data that has already been publicly disclosed.
The directive also restricted the distribution of materials only within the agencies that created or provided them.
At the same time, the order does not prohibit the exchange of diplomatic information obtained through other channels, as well as military intelligence that does not concern the negotiation process, such as details the US shares with Ukrainian military to support defensive actions.»
«Overall, the value of the "Five Eyes" partnership lies in the fact that in making policy decisions, we complement each other's intelligence, thus better understanding the plans, intentions, and capabilities of our adversaries», — explains former CIA and US Department of Homeland Security official Steven Cash.
According to him, it is important for allies to have a «common intelligence picture» so that politicians and negotiators «can coordinate our positions and achieve the best deal or conduct the best war».
Photo: Reuters