Are US intelligence services deliberately keeping their closest allies in the dark about peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine? According to reporting by CBS News, and highlighted by France 24, a memo issued by US intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard in early August allegedly instructed that all information regarding such talks be withheld from foreign partners — including members of the “Five Eyes” alliance.
The memo, reportedly classified as “NOFORN” (no foreign dissemination), would prevent intelligence sharing with the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. For decades, the Five Eyes has represented one of the tightest intelligence-sharing networks in the world, and any move by Washington to withhold information from its closest allies is raising alarm among security experts.
A day after CBS broke the story, Gabbard’s office dismissed the claims as “completely false,” insisting that intelligence sharing with allies “has never been stronger.” Her spokesperson accused the US media outlet of generating “manufactured outrage” but declined to provide details on what, if any, information had been shared about negotiations with Russia and Ukraine. CBS, however, stood by its reporting, citing multiple officials who confirmed the NOFORN classification.
Experts interviewed by France 24 note that while it is not unusual for intelligence services to withhold sensitive details even from trusted partners, formally cutting off the Five Eyes network would mark a significant departure. “All capable nations hold back some intelligence from allies,” said Robert Dover, professor of intelligence at the University of Hull, “but the symbolism of an official decision to exclude Five Eyes is far more serious.”
Historical tensions have existed within the alliance — particularly during the Cold War — but analysts say the current situation is unprecedented. “There has never been a precedent in which the United States openly favoured an authoritarian adversary over its closest democratic allies,” said Dr Luca Trenta of Swansea University.
The timing of these revelations is particularly sensitive. On August 15, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin were seen sharing a private drive in the US presidential limousine during a summit in Alaska. Intelligence scholars told France 24 that the secrecy surrounding these talks, combined with the alleged withholding of information from allies, risks weakening Ukraine’s negotiating position.
“Anything that marginalises alliance support for Ukraine is bad for the negotiation,” said Philip Davies of the Brunel Centre for Intelligence and Security Studies. Analysts suggest the Trump administration may be deliberately keeping allies at arm’s length to retain full control over the negotiation agenda — potentially at Kyiv’s expense.
Despite the controversy, observers believe compartmentalised intelligence sharing will continue on other issues, such as monitoring Russian nuclear movements or Chinese military activity. But the alleged decision to sideline Five Eyes partners on Ukraine signals what some experts describe as an “America First” approach to intelligence under Trump’s second term.
“This is very much an own goal,” warned Trenta, stressing that while the US is the most powerful member of the alliance, it relies heavily on the expertise and geographic reach of its partners. “In the long run, it’s unlikely to play out in Washington’s best interest.”
