Key Takeaways
. The United States is scrambling to contain international anger over the leaked Pentagon documents
. The FBI has arrested Jack Teixeira, believed to be the source of the leaked classified files
. Documents reveal that several NATO nations, including the USA, have special troops in Ukraine
YEREVAN (CoinChapter.com) — The recent scandalous leak of classified documents from the Pentagon has left the US Government red-faced. The Biden Administration is in damage control mode as it scrambles to reassure partner nations that the leak has not jeopardized their security. Meanwhile, the FBI has arrested the suspect of the leak. 21 year old Jack Teixeira, a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, was picked up by the law enforcement authorities. He is yet to be arraigned in court.
“This investigation is ongoing. We will share more information at the appropriate time,”
Attorney General Merrick Garland announced, according to the CNN.
A recent article by the Washington Post had claimed that the person allegedly responsible works on a military base. He shared hundreds of classified documents on a closed Discord group that he manages with other gun lovers like himself.
US President Joe Biden, who is on an official visit to Ireland, had also revealed that the authorities were close to nabbing him.
“There’s a full-blown investigation going on, as you know, with the intelligence community and the justice department, and they’re getting close,”
Biden said while talking to reports outside the Irish President’s house in Dublin.
Several countries which found themselves mentioned in the leaked documents have voiced their concerns. While some have slammed Washington for the breach, others have hurried to underplay them as forgeries.
Leaked documents reveal Russia could be up against NATO in Ukraine
The leaked Pentagon documents have revealed some damning top secrets from US Policy. Not only do they show cases where Washington has spied on allies and foes alike, but it also gives details of the situation on the ground in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
In what the Kremlin is sure to pick up, the documents have confirmed that some NATO members have troops in Ukraine.
According to one of the leaked documents, the United Kingdom (UK) has a contingent of 50 soldiers from its special forces in Ukraine, the largest known thus far. Other NATO member states, Latvia France, and the Netherlands, also have 17, 15, and 1 special forces soldiers respectively. The United States, which leads the security block, has 14 soldiers from its special forces in Ukraine, according to the documents.
It is typical for special forces to be despatched in much smaller numbers. However, what is noteworthy is the fact that besides helping Ukraine with weapons, NATO has also allegedly sent troops in uniform against Russia.
In a Twitter statement, the UK’s Ministry of Defence said the leaked classified documents contained a “serious level of inaccuracy”.
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Egypt dismisses the leaked document
One leaked document among the lot allegedly revealed that Egypt wanted to supply several weapons to Russia. These included rockets and munitions. According to the Washington Post, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi had instructed officials to keep the production and supply of the said weapons confidential“to avoid problems with the West”. Cairo would supply Moscow with as many as 40,000 rockets to boost its war efforts in Ukraine.
Responding strongly to the report, an official from the Government of Egypt denied the charges and called it “informational tampering that has no basis in truth”.
“What was published by the newspaper is a falsification, and is based on nothing. Egypt is following a balanced policy with all international sides and the key factors of this policy are peace, stability and development,”
an Egyptian foreign ministry official said, according to TASS.
The Russian news outlet also reported similar sentiments from Moscow. According to the news agency, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said that the report “look like another lame duck” in the Western mass media.
Egypt receives $1.3 billion annually from the United States in military financing. Why are US allies tempted to help Russia win?
South Korea unhappy with the Pentagon documents leak
Meanwhile, in US ally South Korea, opposition leaders voiced concerns about the alleged spying of its officials. Claiming that the incident “violated the sovereignity” of the country, several lawmakers claimed it undermined friendly ties between both countries.
“If it is true that they have spied on us, it is a very disappointing act that undermines the South Korea-U.S. alliance, which is based on mutual trust,”
Lee Jae-Myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, told reporters.
As per the leaked documents, the United States had tried to pressurize Seoul to supply lethal weapons to Ukraine.
Meanwhile, in a show of solidarity with Washington, South Koren President Yoon Suk Yeol’s office called the reports of US spying ‘an absurd false suspicion.’
However, the leaked documents have angered many in South Korea. The Biden Administration is running from pillar to post to curtain the anger that could erupt as a result of the leak.
“We have engaged with allies and partners at high levels over the past days, including to reassure them about our own commitment to safeguarding intelligence,”
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken claimed.
Meanwhile, the United States also tried to reassure Israel that the documents were fabricated. The documents reveal that Washington had been spying on Israeli officials. China, the biggest adversary of the United States, has also said that the Biden Administration should issue an explanation for the leak.
It will be interesting to see what details emerge from Jack Teixeira’s arrest.
