Your account has been succesfully created.
EN FR
Scroll through edition

Deep Dive | United Kingdom
Louise Sandher-Jones grapples with British military intelligence's US dependence

LogoSubscribers only By Pierre Gastineau
7 min read Lire en français
Part 1
London’s huge challenge (1/3).
London’s huge challenge (1/3). © Stéphane Oiry
Part 1
London’s huge challenge (1/3).
London’s huge challenge (1/3). © Stéphane Oiry

Britain's new armed forces minister is at the centre of the UK's greatest strategic dilemma since 1945. The end of alignment with US interests has forced the government to question its US military intelligence reliance. Yet this ex-Intelligence Corps officer knows better than most that British sovereignty in many strategic areas remains unattainable in the short term.

More from this Deep Dive

London’s great challenge (3/3 published parts)

The Falklands, Iran, Ukraine, the Middle East, Diego Garcia... the UK is watching with dismay as the White House abandons British security foundations that have existed since the Second World War. Having started in the political arena, the most taboo question of all since 1945 is now seeping into Britain's intelligence apparatus: how can the country break free from - or at least disminish - its dependence on Washington? Three people in the British government find themselves having to urgently reinvent the country's entire security architecture, and on a shoestring budget.

Related topics to this article

country
United Kingdom country
organisation
Airbus Defence and Space organisation
public figure
Blaise Metreweli public figure
organisation
Boeing organisation
organisation
British Army organisation
public figure
Donald Trump public figure
organisation
HawkEye 360 organisation
public figure
Jonathan Powell public figure
organisation
Vantor organisation
organisation
MI6 organisation
organisation
National Reconnaissance Office organisation
organisation
Palantir organisation
keyword
…
keyword
Defence Intelligence
keyword
Fred Thomas
keyword
Intelligence Corps
keyword
Javier Milei
keyword
Louise Sandher-Jones
keyword
Nugget
keyword
Royal Marine

Read also

Spotlight, Deep Dive | United Kingdom
MI6: Blaise Metreweli's unbridled quest for intelligence alliances to counter US unreliability

Since becoming head of MI6 last year, the athletic Blaise Metreweli has embarked on a marathon trek in search of partnerships to reduce UK dependence on US data. While some within the security establishment may have long dreamt of foregoing the Five Eyes, the goal is now to focus on drawing as many countries as possible into the technical alliance to "dilute" the data-collection power of the US alone.

Part 2 London’s great challenge (2/3).
LogoSubscribers only Agencies 16.09.2026

Sign up for real-time alerts and be notified of new editions!  

Once registered, you will be notified by a short message on your computer or mobile phone as soon as a new edition of our publication or an alert is published. Stay informed anytime, anywhere!