Rare rupture between military allies comes as concerns grow over Trump administration’s lethal sinking of boats
Britain has suspended the sharing of intelligence with the US on suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean amid concerns information supplied may be used to engage in lethal military strikes by American forces.
Such a decision – a rare rupture between the normally close military allies – would indicate that the UK does not believe the Trump administration’s controversial practice of sinking boats allegedly used by drug traffickers is legal.
The UK, which retains oversight on several island territories in the Caribbean, has long shared intelligence with the US about the movements of suspect vessels travelling from Latin America, so they can be seized by the US Coast Guard.
But, CNN, which first reported the story, said that British intelligence-sharing relating to possible drug-related shipping had been paused shortly after the US began a campaign of lethal strikes in September.
