UK warned over US drone cooperation

A former director of Britain’s spy agency has warned that British soldiers working along with US troops on controversial drones program could be at risk of breaking international law.  

David Omand, former head of the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), issued the warning in a report released on Wednesday.

The report raised concerns about “embedded” officers from UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF) working along with American colleagues and piloting US drones. The British military and intelligence experts are based at the US Air Force’s command and control facility for remotely-piloted aircraft (RPA) in Nevada.

Omand argued that UK’s cooperation with the US military in its deadly drone strikes must not involve British officers in any illegal activity.

The former GCHQ called for new guidelines to ensure that Britain “does not inadvertently collude in RPA or other counter-terrorism actions that could be held contrary to international law.”

Jennifer Gibson, a lawyer at the legal charity, Reprieve, commented on Oman’s remarks, saying “When figures such as the former head of GCHQ suggest Britain needs to distance itself from the US drone program, the UK government needs to listen.”

“There can no longer be any doubt that covert US drone strikes in Pakistan and Yemen contravene international law. As long as the UK continues to support this program – through the sharing of intelligence, air bases and personnel – it is complicit in these illegal drone strikes,” Gibson added.

The UK currently possesses 500 of its own drones, with the number expected to rise significantly over the next years amid a £2-billion investment program. In addition, a £1-billion contract with French aerospace multinational Thales will see the addition of a fleet of Watchkeeper surveillance drones.

CAH/HMV/SS