Sydney/Wellington: President Donald Trump’s alleged disclosure of highly classified information to Russia’s foreign minister is unlikely to stop allies who share intelligence with Washington from cooperating, officials said on Tuesday.
Some experts added, however, that the reports could undermine trust between partners.
“If true, this is not going to instill confidence in allies already wary of sharing the most sensitive information,” one senior diplomat of the Nato alliance said.
Two of Washington’s allies in the intelligence sharing network known as “Five Eyes” — which groups the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand — played down the impact on their ties with Washington.
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turn-bull said he would maintain “my normal circumspection and discretion” on classified matters, adding the alliance with the United States “is the bedrock of our national security”. New Zealand foreign minister Gerry Brownlee noted the story had been denied.
“The media reports have been rejected by senior US officials who were in the meeting,” he said in an email via his spokeswoman. “If there is ever to be a resolution of the dreadful situation in Syria, it will require concerted efforts from both the US and Russia.”
A Japanese government official said it was simply not possible to stop cooperating with Washington.
