Data gaffe in Washington: what's the upshot?
Instead of using specially secured channels, Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz shared confidential information in a Signal chat group to which Washington-based journalist Jeffrey Goldberg had also been added. Among other things, the conversation revealed details of the schedule and targets for the airstrike against the Yemeni Houthi militia on 15 March. Commentators examine the various aspects of the fiasco.
Dangerous carelessness
Such negligence in the handling of classified information is not only risky for the US, warns De Volkskrant:
“The mass dismissals of 160 experienced National Security Council officials ordered in January have resulted in a massive loss of expertise. It's shocking that the chat participants could behave so amateurishly. Even the simplest security measures were trampled underfoot. ... This is a clear warning for the Netherlands (once again): the US is putting members of the army and intelligence services in danger. If they're this careless with their own information and their own people, then the same certainly applies to those of their allies.”
Even such dilettantes must be taken seriously
Hospodářské noviny observes:
“The current American leadership is in a similar situation to the Russians: yes, it can be ridiculed for its incompetence and amateurism. But that shouldn't create the false impression that Trump's boys can be taken lightly. Their determination to recreate America in their own image under the MAGA brand and their open hatred of Europe must be taken deadly seriously - just like Russia's threats and Putin's efforts to change the order in Europe.”
Worrying hubris
This fits in perfectly with the administration's constant talk of supposed efficiency and Musk's Doge, points out Deutschlandfunk's Washington correspondent Doris Simon:
“Don't waste time with the cumbersome route via Congress or the legal process. Go for chaotic cutbacks and redundancies with dramatic consequences. Or just practical, fast messenger posts instead of always having to go to the bug-proof room in the basement. An encrypted app will do the job when it comes to discussing plans for an attack that will cost human lives in any case: the hubris in this US administration two months after Donald Trump took office is worrying, and not only for US citizens.”
Openly hostile to the EU
El Mundo analyses the choice of words in the leaked chat:
“Vice President JD Vance is openly hostile towards Europe in the conversation. When Vance remarks that he 'hates' having to bail out the Europeans, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth settles the dispute by admitting that he shares his 'loathing' of 'free-loading'. ... In this vulgar and obviously improvised conversation, it becomes clear not only that Trump is demanding a defence effort from Europe, which might be understandable, but that he harbours an overt hostility towards the EU, which aligns perfectly with his strategy of strengthening the far-right parties that are destabilising the internal politics of the EU 27.”
Does Article 5 still apply?
The way in which US officials communicate about Europe raises questions about loyalty to the alliance, says Jutarnji list:
“The old continent, including the Kremlin, has once again received confirmation in black and white that Washington no longer offers guarantees of backing its oldest allies, regardless of whether they've started arming themselves to the teeth to save what can still be saved of transatlantic relations under Donald Trump (and JD Vance). What remains to be clarified is whether this means that Article 5 of Nato no longer applies. ... Europe is asking itself this question in disbelief, fearing the consequences for its future. Russia is asking itself this question enthusiastically and calculating its next strategic moves.”
White House has become a ship of fools
The humiliation goes beyond mere data protection, sociologist Igor Eidman writes on Facebook:
“Fools who don't understand the consequences of their actions have come to power in the US. This is evident not only from the pathological carelessness with which the secret operation was discussed, but also from the plan's modus operandi. By the looks of it, Trump's closest associates seriously believed that an air strike on the Houthis could eliminate the threat to shipping via the Suez Canal. ... Not just in public, but also in their secret correspondence they display a completely distorted perception of world events and truly believe in simple solutions to highly complex issues. Russia, China and Iran can rejoice, for the White House has become a ship of fools.”