WASHINGTON - The Netherlands has joined the United Kingdom and Colombia in restricting intelligence cooperation with the United States following a series of controversial U.S. missile strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean. The move marks one of the most significant diplomatic repercussions to date stemming from the American operations.
The development is revealed in a letter sent by U.S. congressmen Jim Himes and Joaquin Castro to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. The letter represents the first formal acknowledgment from within the U.S. Congress that three close allies—including a partner within the Kingdom of the Netherlands—have scaled back intelligence-sharing activities.
Dutch Services: “We Sometimes Withhold Information”
According to the lawmakers, both Dutch civilian and military intelligence agencies have publicly stated that they “sometimes no longer share information” with the United States due to concerns over the legality and human rights implications of the airstrikes.
The warning from the Netherlands adds to growing unease within the transatlantic security community. Himes and Castro specifically cite fears of human rights violations and the politicization of intelligence—two red lines in European-U.S. security cooperation.
UK and Colombia Already Pulling Back
The Netherlands is not alone. The United Kingdom, a core member of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, has also reduced cooperation. Meanwhile Colombia, a long-standing regional security partner, has suspended all contacts with U.S. agencies as long as the so-called “boat strikes” continue. Colombian officials have labeled the attacks illegal.
These coordinated pullbacks represent an unprecedented rift within the United States' most critical intelligence networks.
A Threat to U.S. National Security
Himes and Castro warn that the breakdown in trust “threatens U.S. national security,” noting that America’s global intelligence partnerships serve as a “force multiplier” that the country cannot afford to lose.
They have requested an immediate briefing from Gabbard detailing:
The extent of the damage caused to intelligence alliances
The operational impact on U.S. security
Steps the administration intends to take to repair trust with allied nations
Strains in a Historically Strong Partnership
The inclusion of the Netherlands in the list of dissenting nations is politically sensitive. The U.S. and the Kingdom of the Netherlands maintain one of the closest security partnerships in the region, including aviation cooperation, military basing, and maritime counter-narcotics operations.
That such a longstanding ally is now openly scaling back intelligence sharing underscores the deep diplomatic fallout from the American missile operations—and highlights growing international concern about the lack of transparency and oversight surrounding the strikes.
As the controversy expands, pressure is mounting on Washington to justify its actions and restore confidence among its most trusted partners.