Dutch spy services have restricted intelligence-sharing with the United States

Motives for Dutch Restrictions

• Many commenters link the move directly to distrust of the current US administration, especially its perceived friendliness toward Russia and hostility to Ukraine.
• Some think practical impact will be narrow (e.g., Ukraine-related plans) while broader cooperation and day‑to‑day intel sharing stays intact.
• A few speculate it could also be a response to suspected leaks, with “A/B testing” of what is shared.

US Reliability, Trump, and Democratic Backsliding

• Strong thread arguing that US behavior has become erratic and dangerous: Jan 6, refusal to accept electoral defeat, and attempts to pressure Ukraine are cited as reasons allies should withhold sensitive intelligence.
• Others contest the “insurrection” framing of Jan 6 and argue it was mischaracterized political protest, showing a sharp split even within the thread.
• Several Europeans say they no longer see the US as a dependable ally for vital security needs and favor building independent European defense and policy.

Five Eyes, Surveillance, and Civil Liberties

• Some want Five Eyes weakened, seeing it as a vehicle for circumventing domestic surveillance limits by “outsourcing” spying on each other’s citizens.
• Others stress that Five Eyes is primarily an intel‑sharing framework; dismantling it could weaken the democratic camp against Russia and China.
• There is tension between wanting strong collective defense and rejecting mass surveillance.

Dependence on US Tech and Infrastructure

• Commenters note that much of the Dutch government (and others in Europe) runs on AWS, Azure, Microsoft 365, and US software like Palantir, limiting how much can really be kept from US eyes.
• This dependence is criticized as a sovereignty and security risk, but defenders say local capabilities are weak and vendor lock‑in (especially Excel/Windows in finance and administration) is powerful.
• Attempts in Germany and elsewhere to move to Linux or non‑US stacks are cited, but decades of partial or failed migrations make many skeptical.

Economics, Energy, and Realpolitik

• Discussion of Dutch/Russian gas trade and the Groningen field is used to illustrate that economic convenience routinely overrides security concerns.
• Several argue the same pattern will apply with Trump-era US: public posturing aside, intelligence and economic ties will likely continue wherever interests align.