OSLO, NORWAY – Recent events in the United States, including a significant intelligence blunder and the appointment of a National Intelligence Director with a seemingly lenient stance towards Russia, are raising serious concerns among its allies, particularly Norway. Experts are now questioning the wisdom of sharing sensitive intelligence with Washington under the current administration.
The unease stems from a recent report by Nettavisen detailing a security lapse within the US’s top defense and security leadership. Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz were reportedly discussing military attack plans in Yemen over the encrypted messaging service Signal. This unprecedented breach, which inadvertently exposed classified information to the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, has drawn sharp criticism and sparked international alarm.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney labeled the intelligence scandal as “very serious,” stating that the accidental leak of classified attack plans necessitates allied nations to increasingly “look after ourselves,” according to Canadian television. Canada is a member of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network, which includes the US, UK, Australia, and New Zealand.
Norway, while not part of Five Eyes, is a member of the Nine Eyes alliance, an expanded network that also includes France, the Netherlands, and Denmark. Often referred to as “NATO’s eyes and ears in the north,” Norway provides the US with crucial intelligence, particularly concerning Russian strategic submarine activity in the Arctic.
Now, a Norwegian intelligence expert who spoke to Nettavisen anonymously warns that the Signal scandal elevates the risks associated with sharing Norwegian intelligence with the Americans.
“When it comes to sharing intelligence with the Americans, one can say that the current Trump administration’s use of commercial communication channels is, of course, a problem. No matter how encrypted the Signal app is, it is risky to send highly classified information on Signal,” stated independent security and defense analyst Jacob Kaarsbo to Nettavisen. Kaarsbo is the former head of analysis at the Danish Defence Intelligence Service (FE).
He emphasized the gravity of the leaked information, stating, “These were military attack plans that would normally be classified ‘Top Secret.’ It is seemingly irrelevant to Hegseth, who simply shares it on Signal. But this information is classified as high as it almost can be, because it contains concrete military plans that can put soldiers’ lives at risk.”
Kaarsbo does not rule out the possibility that Norwegian or Danish intelligence shared with the US could be compromised. He further highlighted concerns surrounding the Trump administration’s perspective on Russia.
“They repeatedly state, whether it is President Donald Trump or US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, that Russia and Putin are not a threat. Therefore, I believe there is a very high risk in sharing intelligence with the US,” he asserted.
President Trump’s appointment of Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence (DNI) has been particularly controversial due to her past positive remarks regarding Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Kaarsbo also pointed to a recent interview with US Special Envoy for Ukraine Steve Witkoff on the Tucker Carlson podcast, where Witkoff echoed “Putin’s talking points and propaganda,” as evidence that the Trump administration no longer views Russia as a threat.
“When they no longer perceive Russia as a threat, we can no longer trust that the Americans will withhold intelligence they receive from us. There are significant reasons to be worried about intelligence cooperation with the US now,” Kaarsbo concluded.
Eirik Løkke, an advisor at the think tank Civita who closely follows American politics, partially agrees with the assessment that sharing Norwegian intelligence with the US carries a certain risk.
“I can put it this way: it is riskier now than it was before Trump became president again. Both because Tulsi Gabbard is a person many are skeptical of, and because this chat group shows that their handling of classified information is highly questionable,” Løkke told Nettavisen.
However, Løkke also cautioned against completely severing ties. “But we must remember that it is even riskier not to share intelligence with the Americans, because the US is so important on the intelligence front. So, this is a risk we simply have to live with,” he stated.
Meanwhile, a separate commentary piece published on Nettavisen argues even more forcefully that the US can no longer be considered a reliable ally. The author points to Donald Trump’s long-standing skepticism towards NATO and his friendly disposition towards Russia, particularly Vladimir Putin.
The appointment of Gabbard as DNI, who has previously stated that the conflict in Ukraine could have been avoided if the “Biden administration and NATO had simply acknowledged Russia’s legitimate security concerns,” further fuels these concerns.
The commentary suggests that Norway’s reliance on the US security guarantee within NATO is increasingly precarious and urges the Norwegian defense and intelligence communities to quietly reorient themselves towards stronger defense cooperation with democratic neighbors in the Nordic and European regions.
These developments paint a concerning picture for Norway and other allies who depend on close intelligence sharing with the United States. The combination of security lapses and a shifting political landscape in Washington is forcing nations to re-evaluate their trust and reliance on their long-standing partnerships. The coming months will likely see increased scrutiny and potentially a recalibration of intelligence-sharing practices between Norway and its transatlantic ally.
