Allies are looking for an alternative to US intelligence for Ukraine

Allies look for an alternative to US intelligence in case of its withdrawal

Ukraine's allies are considering partially replacing US intelligence support if Washington cuts or suspends data transfers to Kyiv. According to a report by Politico, The United States has unique intelligence capabilities that are difficult to duplicate even within NATO, and their possible absence will create serious gaps in Ukraine's defence capabilities.

One of the realistic options is the Finnish company ICEYE, which provides Ukraine with SAR satellite imagery. The company also has agreements in place with Poland, the Netherlands and Portugal, which allows it to rapidly increase data transmission volumes.

In addition, Canada has declared its readiness to resume providing RADARSAT-2 imagery, which previously helped Ukraine monitor the situation at the border and identify targets in low visibility conditions.

Context.

US intelligence systems provide most of the critical information for planning Ukrainian operations, from detecting Russian missile launches to tracking targets over long distances. Their possible curtailment will lead to information gaps, especially in the areas of precision strikes and deep operations behind enemy lines.

Experts note that partial replacement can be provided by long-range drones, private intelligence companies and European satellite programmes. However, it will be extremely difficult to completely replace American technology.