Global 'alarm' over Donald Trump selecting Tulsi Gabbard as his intelligence chief: Defence leaders weigh in on president elect's 'pro-Moscow' pick

Concerns person been raised crossed the globe astir Donald Trump selecting Tulsi Gabbard arsenic his Director of National Intelligence. 

The erstwhile Army Lieutenant Colonel was tipped for the elder nationalist information relation aft becoming a Trump state - which volition spot her oversee America's 18 intelligenge agencies. 

The 43-year-old formally announced that she joined the Republican Party at a run rally alongside Trump successful the summer.

Ms Gabbard has repeated Russian propaganda implicit Ukrainian 'bio-labs', defended Moscow's lawsuit for war, and met with Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad connected 2 occasions aft dismissing reports astir his usage of chemical weapons. 

Now, her information has ignited fears implicit imaginable decreases successful quality sharing. 

Former caput of MI6, Sir Richard Dearlove, told The Telegraph: 'This is simply a maverick appointment. She has nary acquisition of quality and security. We person to spot however this plays retired erstwhile she's successful the job.' 

Meanwhile, Philip Ingram, erstwhile British Army elder quality and information officer, said: 'I deliberation appointing anyone with zero quality acquisition to beryllium manager of nationalist quality should beryllium an alarm call.' 

A Western quality root told Politico that Mr Gabbard's assignment could person an interaction connected quality sharing passim the Five-Eyes allowance.  

And Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a erstwhile commandant of Nato's chemical, biological, radiological and atomic battalion, said the US-UK confederation could beryllium affected by the decision. 

Gabbard was a lifelong Democrat, and served successful the enactment arsenic a U.S. Representative from Hawaii from 2013 until 2021. She roseate to nationalist prominence during her unsuccessful Democratic superior bid successful 2020.

After leaving the Democratic Party successful 2022 and announcing her question to the Republican Party 2 years later, Gabbard became a protagonist and surrogate for Trump. 

She became co-chair of Trump's modulation squad aft his historical statesmanlike predetermination triumph connected November 5.

Gabbard has been vocal astir her disapproval of the 'weaponization' of the quality assemblage – particularly nether President Joe Biden's medication against Trump and his circle.

She claims that Democrats judge the quality arms of the U.S. are capable to enactment without oversight and 'screw' Americans with whom they disagree.

'I'll ne'er hide erstwhile Chuck Schumer connected tv warned, "Trump is an idiot to messiness with the quality assemblage 'cause they tin screw you six ways from Sunday",' Gabbard said during remarks astatine the Young Americans for Liberty's (YAL) Revolution 2022 lawsuit successful August 2022.

She continued: 'Highest-ranking Democrat successful the U.S. Senate informing the American people, essentially, against messing with the quality assemblage due to the fact that of however severely they tin screw you. As though they are immoderate autonomous assemblage of authorities that is accountable to nary one.'

'How tin this beryllium America?' she questioned. 'This goes against these ideals of a authorities of, by and for the people.'

Trump's announcement of Gabbard connected Wednesday helps statesman to circular retired his caller nationalist information and defense-related team.

He plans to nominate Fox News anchor Pete Hegseth arsenic his Secretary of Defense and Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) arsenic his nationalist information adviser.

Trump is nominating North Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to pb his Department of Homeland Security.

And earlier this week, the erstwhile and aboriginal president announced his erstwhile DNI John Ratcliffe would pb the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).