Vice Adm. Joseph McGuire, Trump counterterrorism pick, stresses need for allies

The U.S. national security and intelligence communities must strengthen ties with existing allies such as NATO and recruit new ones to deal with the next generation of terrorist threats, the Trump administration’s top counterterrorism pick told Congress Wednesday.

The fraying of longstanding relationships allies such as Germany, France and the United Kingdom could put the U.S. at risk, retired Vice Adm. Joseph McGuire told members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

“I’ve always felt that you can’t have too many friends on the battlefield, and right now with the counterterrorism battlefield, we really need to have all of our partners and allies,” Adm. McGuire told the Senate panel during his confirmation hearing to become the next head of the National Counterterrorism Center.

“I think the key to success in this battle is intelligence and information, and we must maintain the bridges and the relationships both ways to be able to receive and to be able to provide,” the former chief of Naval Special Warfare said. Prior to his confirmation, Adm. McGuire served as the center’s head of strategic operational planning. If confirmed, he will replace outgoing center chief Nick Rasmussen.

The counterterror center operates under Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and supports national counterterrorism efforts by integrating domestic and foreign data, analyzing terrorist activity and sharing information with allied organizations.

The hearing featured some pointed questions from lawmakers on the current state of ties with foreign intelligence partners under President Trump.

“In normal times I wouldn’t have to ask this question, but can you speak to that need of maintaining those alliances?,” committee member Sen. Mark Warner asked Adm. McGuire.

The Trump administration’s aggressive trade policies, Mr. Trump’s sometimes rocky relations with U.S. intelligence services and the president’s open questioning of some NATO allies have all cast a cloud over traditionally close intelligence services.

On a recent European tour, Mr. Trump accused Germany of being “totally controlled” and later described the European Union as “a foe” on some fronts, notably trade, days before his controversial summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“We seem to have a White House that sometimes treats our allies as adversaries and adversaries as friends,” Sen. Warner, a Virginia Democrat, added.

While Mr. Trump’s unconventional diplomatic and security policies have shaken many in the international community, American and allied intelligence professionals believe that their relationships are vital in securing the U.S. and its Western partners from terrorist acts, Adm. McGuire said.

“We really can’t do this alone without them, and to not rely on our partners would be a mistake,” he said. “Because you never know where the information is going to come from, and information and intelligence are key and essential to the success of this campaign.”