Page 2 - ARUBA TODAY

A2 UP FRONT
Monday 6 February 2017
Unpredictable Trump foreign policy may test US spy alliances

DEB RIECHMANN of Ukraine’s Crimean Pen- ances, if not necessarily in- improving under a “reset” sive style and lack of expe-
EILEEN SULLIVAN insula in 2014 and threat- telligence partnerships. He policy. In recent days, rience handling classified
Associated Press ening movements near the called NATO “obsolete” Trump’s administration has information also have for-
WASHINGTON (AP) — Don- borders of NATO members and challenged countries reverted to criticizing the eign officials concerned.
ald Trump’s unpredictable in Eastern Europe have such as South Korea and Kremlin after a flare-up of Mark Galeotti at the Insti-
foreign policy could ham- tute of International Rela-
per long-standing U.S. in- tions in Prague, said Euro-
telligence-sharing partner- pean intelligence officials
ships as countries react to a worry that Trump or his ad-
president who seeks closer visers will “blurt something
ties to Russia and is unafraid out at the wrong moment
to offend American allies or to the wrong person.”
by cracking down on im- Allies might curtail what
migration or getting angry they share as a result, said
with friendly leaders. Galeotti, who talks with
Veteran spies say intel- intelligence officials in Eu-
ligence relationships are rope and Russia.
built to weather storms “It’s not so much about
between political leaders. how much,” he said. “It’s
Even in the worst of times, precisely how heavily ed-
allies share intelligence to ited it is, how carefully it’s
thwart threats. But the lack scrutinized to absolutely
of understanding about make sure that there is
Trump’s foreign policy di- nothing that you are wor-
rection and his potential ried about leaking.”
new friendship with Mos- Former French internal intel-
cow are creating jitters ligence chief Louis Caprioli
across the Western world. said European countries
“We are facing an unprec- In this Jan. 21, 2017 photo, President Donald Trump, background, speaks at the Central Intelli- might hold information re-
edented level of uncertain- gence Agency in Langley, Va. Trump’s unpredictable foreign policy could hamper long-standing lated to Ukraine or other
U.S. intelligence-sharing partnerships as countries react to a president who seeks closer ties to
ty today,” said John Blax- Russia and is unafraid to offend American allies by cracking down on immigration or getting an- issues closer, given the un-
land, a former Australian in- gry with friendly leaders. certainty of Trump’s rela-
telligence official and pro- (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) tionship with Putin. But he
fessor at Australian Nation- said intelligence sharing will
al University. He said there contributed to the percep- Japan to assume greater violence involving Russian- continue in critical areas,
is mutual benefit to these tion of Moscow as a threat self-defense responsibility. backed separatists in east- such as counterterrorism.
“broad, deep” intelligence to national sovereignty. In the last weeks, however, ern Ukraine. “Intelligence services go
sharing relationships, but If American intelligence Trump advisers have gone Regardless of Trump’s new beyond the political world,”
added: “It is hard to calcu- agencies are instructed out of their way to stress the direction, Rep. Will Hurd, R- Caprioli said. Still, allies fret
late just how much dam- to enhance cooperation durability of such arrange- Texas, a former CIA officer about politics seeping into
age the new president’s with Russia, U.S. allies see ments and America’s com- and new member on the U.S. intelligence findings.
approach may have.” “significant counterintel- mitment to its friends. House Intelligence Com- Trump has disparaged U.S.
“It will be felt,” Blaxland ligence threats that come Detente between Wash- mittee, said American intel- intelligence agencies for
predicted, “and it won’t be with that,” said Steven Hall, ington and Moscow is no ligence professionals rec- past failures and publicly
good.” a retired CIA chief of Rus- sure thing, despite Trump’s ognize the need to protect challenged their assess-
Russia is a main concern. sia operations. He said they intentions. Under President information they receive. ment that Russia meddled
If Trump moves forward “will be much more careful Barack Obama, relations “The point at which our al- in the presidential election.
with efforts to improve U.S.- in the future.” between the former Cold lies will get concerned is if A day after he was inaugu-
Russian relations, European As candidate and presi- War foes strained dramati- they believe that our intelli- rated, Trump delivered an
allies in particular will prob- dent, Trump has sparked cally over Syria, Ukraine gence professionals do not unusual speech at the CIA
ably question how safe their widespread international and alleged Russian med- view Russia as an adver- headquarters criticizing the
intelligence is in American unease by questioning the dling in the U.S. presiden- sary,” he said. media’s coverage of his in-
hands. Russia’s annexation value of U.S. military alli- tial election after initially Trump’s sometimes impul- augural crowds.q
Despite White House warning, Israel pushes settlement bill

JOSEF FEDERMAN pressure from members of powerful coalition ally, has edly expressing private mis- homes, putting pressure
Associated Press his coalition to bring the been leading the calls to givings. On Sunday, he indi- on the government to re-
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s bill to a vote in parliament vote on the outpost law this cated that he might once spond. Proponents of the
prime minister is moving following last week’s court- week, perhaps as soon as again delay the vote in a new legislation are bent on
ahead with a contentious ordered demolition of an il- Monday. The Jewish Home possible sign he is rethinking passing it to prevent similar
law that would legalize legally built settlement out- believes that with a friendly his support. scenes from taking place.
dozens of settlement out- post. But he risks drawing president in office, it is time Jewish Home lawmaker The bill would retroactively
posts in the West Bank, de- angry international con- for Netanyahu to lay out Shuli Moalem-Refaeli, one legalize several thousand
spite claims by experts that demnations, possibly even a clear policy for the West of the bill’s sponsors, said homes built illegally on pri-
the bill itself is illegal and from the ostensibly friendly Bank, including the possible that the West Bank is dot- vate Palestinian land. The
a warning from the White Trump administration, if he annexation of parts of the ted with outposts that she original landowners would
House that settlement con- pushes forward. occupied territory. claimed had been built be compensated either
struction “may not be help- Netanyahu’s nationalist co- Netanyahu has sent mixed over the years in “good with money or alterna-
ful.” alition is dominated by West signals about the legisla- faith” and should now be tive land, even if they do
Prime Minister Benjamin Ne- Bank settlers and their sup- tion, publicly voicing sup- legalized. Over 40 fami- not agree to give up their
tanyahu is under intense porters. The Jewish Home, a port for it while also report- lies were forced from their property.q