The United States Department of Defense has formally refused to release the complete, unedited video footage of a military engagement in the Caribbean Sea, citing significant national security concerns. The decision, made public on Tuesday, 16th December 2025, follows a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request filed by the news organisation Reuters.
Security Concerns Trump Public Interest
In its official rejection letter, the Pentagon's FOIA office stated that disclosing the full video would "cause exceptionally grave damage to the national security" of the United States. Officials argued that the complete recording contains sensitive data related to intelligence sources, military tactics, and the specific capabilities of US defence systems. Releasing it, they claim, would provide adversaries with a dangerous blueprint of American operational procedures.
The incident in question occurred earlier in the year when a US military drone reportedly engaged and destroyed another unmanned aerial vehicle over the Caribbean. While a brief, edited clip was shown to journalists at the Pentagon in October, the full context of the event remains shrouded in official secrecy. The released snippet was described as a "heavily edited, 90-second version" that offered limited perspective on the confrontation.
Criticism Over Transparency and Accountability
The Pentagon's stance has ignited immediate criticism from transparency advocates and media watchdogs. Seth Binder from the Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED) labelled the move a "classic example of the US government's lack of transparency on national security issues." Critics contend that the blanket refusal undermines public accountability, especially for military actions taken in international waters.
They argue that without access to the full visual record, it is impossible to independently verify the official narrative of the event, including the nature of the threat posed by the destroyed drone and the proportionality of the US response. This case echoes long-standing debates about the balance between operational secrecy and the public's right to scrutinise military engagements conducted in their name.
Legal Pathways and Ongoing Scrutiny
Under US law, Reuters retains the right to appeal the Pentagon's decision. The news agency can challenge the classification of the material and the breadth of the security exemption invoked. Such appeals often lead to protracted legal battles, where judges must weigh the government's security claims against the principles of open government.
The outcome of this case is being closely watched, as it sets a potential precedent for how the US military handles future requests for visual evidence of its operations. The decision to withhold the footage ensures that the Caribbean drone incident of 2025 will remain a subject of speculation and diplomatic discussion, rather than a fully documented public record. The move reinforces a pattern where national security is routinely prioritised over transparency, leaving key details of modern warfare obscured from view.
