Leaked Pentagon files have suggested that the United States was monitoring United Nations (UN) chief Antonio Guterres, believing him to be too lenient towards Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. The papers reportedly show private communications between Guterres and his deputy, in which the two discussed a Black Sea grain export deal. The leaked documents suggest that Guterres was keen to preserve the deal and was willing to accommodate Russian interests in order to make it happen.
According to the leaked US document, Guterres had emphasised his efforts to improve Russia’s ability to export, even if that meant working with sanctioned Russian entities or individuals. Ukraine and Russia signed the export deal in July, agreeing to allow the export of grain, fertiliser and other farm goods across the Black Sea while they are at war. Guterres and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan mediated the talks, which they said would help ease a global food crisis.
However, during discussions in February, Guterres was accused of “undermining broader efforts to hold Moscow accountable for its actions in Ukraine”. Another US document from mid-February alleged that Guterres expressed “dismay” after a call with Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, in which she said the European Union intended to increase its production of weapons and ammunition for Ukraine.
The Pentagon leaks have caused a media and political storm in recent days, sparking a national security investigation in the US. The information contained in the leaks has not yet been verified and US officials have warned that at least some of the documents appear to have been doctored. The leaks contain highly sensitive information regarding the war in Ukraine and suggest that the US has been spying on its allies.
The person responsible for leaking the classified documents is said to be a gun enthusiast in his 20s who worked on a military base. According to The Washington Post, the man brought the documents home with him and posted hundreds of pages of material on an online social platform Discord. The Pentagon has not yet commented on the leaks, but the incident is likely to raise concerns about the security of sensitive government information.