US intel leak could cause problems in Putin's Russia

Carl Bildt, former prime minister of Sweden, shares his perspective on European politics from Washington, DC.

What's been the fallout from President Macron's visit to China?

Confusion might perhaps be the most diplomatic way of phrasing it. Because whatever he meant to say, he phrased it in such a way that it gave rise to a lot of misunderstanding. It was interpreted, not least on this side of the Atlantic, as a fundamentally different policy on Taiwan. That is not the case. We have fundamentally the same policy in Europe and the US on Taiwan, the One-China policy, not support for Taiwan independence, strong support for Taiwan's democracy, and a resolute opposition to any attempts at changing the status quo by force. That would have been a better way of phrasing it from President Macron side.

What's going to be the fallout from the US intelligence leaks?

Well, I think there will be or there is a certain amount of turmoil here in Washington over it, by necessity. There is a certain amount of surprise in Europe, by necessity. But I think the fallout, as a matter of fact, might be stronger over time in Moscow, because the leaks do indicate that the US has penetrated fairly deep Russian structures, very deeply. I don't think that in terms of gathering intelligence, I don't think Vladimir Putin will take very lightly to this. So my guess is that as a result of intelligence leaks, you will find that more heads rolling in Moscow than heads will be rolling in Washington.