UK pauses intelligence-sharing with US on suspected drug vessels in Caribbean!

Britain’s move comes amid growing concern that US military actions in the Caribbean may violate international law

November 13, 2025

Britain pauses Caribbean intel-sharing amid mounting fears over legality of US strikes

A rare rupture between military allies comes as concerns grow over the Trump administration’s lethal sinking of boats in Caribbean waters

But to go as far as to stop sharing intel?! What could be the root cause?

The root cause for the UK’s decision to pause intelligence-sharing on suspected drug vessels with the US in the Caribbean stems from serious legal concerns over the US’s lethal military strikes.[1][2][3][4][5]

Here is a breakdown of the key reasons:

1. Concerns over Illegality and Complicity

Belief of International Law Breach: British officials reportedly believe the US military strikes—which have involved lethal force, including sinking vessels and killing over 70 people since the campaign began in September—violate international law and may amount to extrajudicial killings.
Avoiding Complicity: The UK wants to avoid being complicit in actions it views as illegal. The intelligence the UK historically provided (often gathered from its assets in Caribbean territories) was traditionally used by the US Coast Guard to intercept vessels, seize drugs, and detain crews. Now, the UK fears this intelligence could be used by the Trump administration to select targets for lethal military strikes.

2. Shift from law enforcement to military action

Changing US Policy: Prior to the Trump administration’s campaign, counternarcotics operations were primarily handled by law enforcement (like the US Coast Guard), treating smugglers as criminals with due process. The UK was comfortable assisting this effort.
Trump administration justification: The Trump administration has shifted the approach, designating drug cartels as “foreign terrorist organizations” and claiming that the US is in an “armed conflict” with them. This is used to justify the US military using lethal force, claiming the suspected traffickers are “combatants” who can be legally targeted.

3. Alignment with International Criticism

The UK’s concern aligns with assessments from international bodies. The UN’s human rights chief, Volker Türk, previously stated that the strikes violate international law and amount to “extrajudicial killing,” a view that British officials reportedly share.

This rupture highlights a significant disagreement between the UK and the US over the legal parameters of the counternarcotics mission and the acceptable use of force, which goes beyond the typical disagreements between close allies. It’s a clear signal that the UK is prioritizing its legal and ethical obligations over seamless intelligence cooperation on this specific issue.

References:

[1] UK pauses intelligence-sharing with US on suspected drug vessels in Caribbean – Nov 11, 2025, The Guardian

[2] UK stops some intelligence sharing with US over Caribbean drug boat strike concerns, reports say – Nov 12, 2025, ITV

[3] UK halts some intelligence sharing with US over drug boat strikes – report – Nov 11, 2025, Independent UK

[4] UK Suspends Sharing Intelligence With the U.S. Over Pentagon Strikes on Alleged Drug Boats – Nov 12, 2025, Democracy Now

[5] UK, Colombia halt intel to US over boat attacks – Nov 12, 2025, The Week

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