U.S. halts Russian interference efforts; allies left in limbo
The Reuters agency, citing its sources, reported that American national security services halted efforts to counter Russian sabotage, disinformation, and cyberattacks after President Donald Trump came to power.
President Joe Biden's administration established working groups to prevent Russian acts of sabotage, disinformation, and cyberattacks. The groups included representatives from at least seven agencies working with European allies, and the National Security Council led their activities.
Since President Trump's assumption of office, the work has ceased - current and former American officials told Reuters.
Their information indicates that meetings between the National Security Council and European national security officials are no longer planned. The Council also reportedly stopped coordinating actions between American security agencies.
Employees on leave, team disbanded
Last month, the FBI ended its efforts to counter election interference in the U.S. by foreign adversaries, including Russia, and placed the Department of Homeland Security employees working on this issue on leave. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice disbanded the team that seized the assets of Russian oligarchs.
According to Reuters informants, The White House did not inform the staff who previously participated in the interagency working groups whether they would be reconstituted.
Do the USA cooperate with allies?
It is also unclear to what extent the United States continues to share intelligence information related to the sabotage campaign with European allies.
British government officials told Reuters that the routine exchange of intelligence information between the United States and the British government continues.
National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes said it coordinates actions "with appropriate agencies to assess and thwart threats to Americans."
CIA, FBI, and State Department refuse to comment
- President Trump has made it abundantly clear that any attack on the U.S. will be met with a disproportionate response - he said.
A senior U.S. official at NATO said that the USA continues coordinating actions with its allies in this matter but refused to provide further details. The CIA, FBI, and State Department declined to comment.
When asked about suspending some intelligence meetings, Anitta Hipper, the EU spokeswoman for foreign affairs and security policy, said she had no specific information to share. She said the EU coordinates actions with NATO to counter hybrid threats, including physical sabotage of critical infrastructure to disinformation campaigns.
