Former President Donald Trump is facing new allegations of leaking sensitive information, this time involving key details about the US nuclear arsenal. According to reports from ABC News and The New York Times, Trump disclosed information about the US Navy’s submarine fleet, including the number of nuclear warheads they can carry and their ability to approach Russian vessels undetected. The alleged disclosure has raised concerns about Trump’s willingness to protect national secrets, especially as he leads in polls for the Republican nomination to challenge President Joe Biden next year.
The disclosure of such information is a significant breach of security. Joe Cirincione, a security analyst with high clearance on nuclear weapons issues, explained that very few people in the US government know the exact configuration of nuclear submarines. If Trump’s disclosure is true, it would reveal crucial details about US capabilities. Cirincione emphasized that even he did not have access to such information, and the Australian billionaire who received the details certainly had no need for them.
This is not the first time Trump has been accused of leaking classified information. He is currently facing a federal indictment on 40 counts related to allegedly keeping classified documents at his Florida mansion, disclosing war plans to civilians, and obstructing government efforts to recover the documents. During his presidency in 2017, there were also reports of Trump revealing sensitive intelligence information from Israel to Russia.
In response to the submarine allegations, Trump dismissed them as false and ridiculous. He argued that he was simply boasting about the quality of US military equipment to Anthony Pratt. Trump accused the claim of being an attempt to interfere with the election.
These allegations only add to the growing concerns among US allies about the country’s ability to protect intelligence. If Trump were to win re-election, doubts among allies would likely increase. Recent hacks by US adversaries like Russia and China, along with leaks from within, have already undermined trust in US intelligence-sharing arrangements.
Experts on US submarine technology warn that if Trump’s disclosures are true, they could expose crucial tactical information about the submarines. The US Navy does not confirm or deny the presence of nuclear weapons on specific vessels, and revealing how close submarines can approach adversaries could diminish their tactical advantage. Sharing such top-secret details not only jeopardizes the advantage of stealth but also puts the lives of sailors at risk and undermines national security.
Anthony Pratt, the Australian billionaire who reportedly received the information from Trump, is among the potential trial witnesses in the ongoing classified documents case in Florida. Pratt has been interviewed by US law enforcement agencies twice this year.
Representative Joe Courtney, a Connecticut Democrat, expressed concerns about the impact of these disclosures on national security. He emphasized that sharing top-secret details not only threatens the stealth advantage but also endangers the lives of sailors.
While some experts believe the Navy will take measures to mitigate the damage, others doubt the extent of the impact. Hans Kristensen, director of the Federation of American Scientists Nuclear Information Project, suggests that the number of warheads on a US submarine is likely not a surprise to rivals like Russia. Additionally, the US constantly works to make submarines quieter, which could render the disclosed information outdated.
However, the constant need to mitigate damage and update tactics due to such disclosures is not ideal. The US military should not have to constantly address security breaches of this magnitude.