The Foreign Office has taken the unusual step of summoning a US diplomat following concerning remarks made by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis about creating a state-level security apparatus with international monitoring capabilities.
During a press conference alongside South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, DeSantis floated the idea of establishing a Florida-specific 'homeland security' force that would be tasked with monitoring threats from foreign nations, explicitly mentioning the United Kingdom among other countries.
Diplomatic Protocol Breached
The suggestion that a US state would independently monitor allied nations like the UK has raised eyebrows in diplomatic circles. A Foreign Office spokesperson confirmed that diplomatic channels have been activated to address what they consider an inappropriate proposition between allied nations.
"When close allies make statements that suggest monitoring each other outside normal intelligence-sharing arrangements, it requires clarification," said a Whitehall source familiar with the matter.
Growing Trend of State-Level Foreign Policy
Political analysts note that DeSantis's comments reflect a worrying trend of US governors increasingly engaging in foreign policy matters traditionally reserved for federal authorities. The proposed Florida force would represent a significant departure from conventional state-federal divisions in national security matters.
The diplomatic summons underscores the UK's concern about maintaining trust-based international relationships without unnecessary surveillance between longstanding allies.
Neither Governor DeSantis's office nor the US Embassy in London has issued an official statement regarding the diplomatic meeting, though sources indicate discussions were professional but firm in nature.
