The United Kingdom has suspended intelligence sharing with the United States concerning suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean, amid concerns that shared information is being used to justify what London considers illegal U.S. military attacks in the region.
According to CNN reports, the move represents a rare rift between two of the world’s closest intelligence allies, underscoring Britain’s growing unease with the legality of the U.S. military campaign in Latin America.
For years, the UK — which maintains several Caribbean territories housing intelligence bases — has cooperated closely with Washington, helping to identify suspect vessels later intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard. Those joint operations frequently led to crew arrests and drug seizures.
Typically, British intelligence data was relayed to the Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-South), a Florida-based coalition unit that includes representatives from partner nations and focuses on disrupting the regional narcotics trade.
However, following a series of U.S. air and naval strikes on ships in September, which reportedly left 76 people dead, London froze all data transfers, fearing that its intelligence was being used to select lethal targets.
British officials have reportedly warned that such U.S. actions may constitute a breach of international law. The pause in information sharing has now been in effect for over a month, reflecting the deepening strain in transatlantic security cooperation.
