F-18s, 1415, Target, Tomahawks, MQ-9s: U.S. Leadership in the Spotlight
Avery Kachmarsky
Staff Writer
On March 21, 2025, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated, “Under the previous administration, we looked like fools. Not anymore.” Days later, a private group chat filled with sensitive military information between Secretary Hegseth, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and numerous aides and assistants surfaced. Waltz mistakenly sent a request to Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, to join the chat. Goldberg, who then released the messages to the public, per NPR, was blamed for the leak. However, Goldberg took more care in sharing the messages without further risk than any of the original authors of the messages.
As problematic as it was that private messages were mistakenly shared, the topics of the messages were particularly egregious. The group chat consisted of messages detailing attacks orchestrated by the United States in Yemen in retaliation against Houthi attacks on shipping lanes and U.S. warships, which were sent in real-time concurrently with the mission. The group chat also contained offhand remarks belittling European allies. The messages tarnished the Trump Administration’s reputation for security, strained relations, and could have compromised soldiers’ lives and the mission itself. The threat of sensitive information getting into the wrong hands is now a real possibility. Given that civilians were also killed in the attack, the careless nature of the communication shared within the group messages is especially problematic.
Praying for victory or being hopeful that relations do not continue to sour? The leaked messages reveal a lack of professionalism and a disregard for allies among America’s top leaders. European allies have shared their dismay, especially over Vice President JD Vance’s accusations that they take advantage of the U.S., according to BBC News. They are also concerned about the lack of security measures to prevent future leaks. Discussing the movements of military aircraft and missiles on targets in a group chat is problematic, but so too is not rectifying the mistake.
Per The Times, discerning which intelligence operatives or groups were used to identify the target’s whereabouts within the plan is paramount, as they may be at increased risk. The U.S. and many allies share similar intelligence plans and host partnerships in specific regions, but now allies will be skeptical of future operations if U.S. leaders do not act. While adversaries were handed sensitive information directly from U.S. officials, according to The Hill, American partners feel especially insulted by the dismissive appraisal of their partnership operations. Burning diplomatic bridges with allies will only leave the U.S. more isolated, with adversaries better able to regain footholds in regions the U.S. cannot afford to lose.
The New York Times reports that the Trump Administration has dismissed the need to probe the group chat and calls for resignations from Democrats. Some members who participated in the chat have called the magnitude of the leaks false, pushing the blame to the reporter who was added on no fault of his own. They argue the messages did not contain classified or sensitive details and that each department and agency is authorized to declassify any material at their discretion. Since the result of the mission was a successful operation, they argue that no harm was caused by the leak. At the hearings where top security leaders were questioned over the group chat, no one took full responsibility for the mistake, and no indication has been made that changes will be made to address security concerns. The comments made about American allies have also not been addressed.
The National Security Agency now has a harder job of combating misinformation that can negatively impact the lives of American troops, foreign operatives, allies, and U.S. leaders overseas, as well as ensuring that other channels of intelligence communication are secure. Per Foreign Policy, the NSA must work to create a buffer on any current discussions on any platform that is not completely secure so that important information, such as any plans involving the American military or certain targets, does not fall into the hands of enemies. The NSA must encourage the use of secure networks and devices for international communications and will have to review policies to protect the safety and success of future operations.
To repair relations and instill trust in alliances and partnerships, the nation must hold U.S. officials accountable for their mistakes and ensure that communication systems and procedures are corrected and mission ready. Within Joint Congressional hearings, those questioned must answer truthfully and provide details on how to solve the issue for future reference. By going around in circles and accusing others, even the individual who was mistakenly added, gives adversaries the ability to see and exploit cracks within U.S. leadership. This position ultimately weakens America’s stance abroad and our partnerships. The nation must also meet individually or collectively with allies to ensure that the intelligence commitment is restored and that there are no doubts about America’s capabilities. Addressing weaknesses will help restore relations and provide a much-needed show of strength to allies and adversaries alike.
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