John Ratcliffe, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, made an unplanned visit to Brussels, where he held confidential negotiations with key European Union figures responsible for foreign policy and intelligence activities. The purpose of his visit was to de-escalate the concerns of European partners regarding the reliability of intelligence sharing with the United States amid a changing political landscape.
According to sources familiar with the details of the meeting, Ratcliffe held talks with the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, as well as with senior representatives from the European Union Intelligence and Situation Centre (INTCEN) and the European Union Military Staff (EUMS).
Officials confirmed that a key objective of the negotiations was to reaffirm Washington’s unwavering commitment to the principles of intelligence sharing and to dispel growing doubts in European capitals regarding the course of US foreign policy under the administration of President Donald Trump.
Among the factors contributing to the crisis of trust, sources point to precedents such as the sudden suspension of intelligence sharing with Ukraine in March 2024, as well as a trend towards the politicization of the intelligence apparatus through the appointment of individuals demonstrating loyalty to the current administration to key positions. These events have raised serious concerns about the predictability and stability of cooperation with the United States in the realm of security and intelligence.