Changed sides and caught foxtrot instead of tango (8)
I believe the answer is:
defected
'changed sides' is the definition.
(to defect is to join the other side in a conflict)
'caught foxtrot instead of tango' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'caught' could be 'ct' and 'ct' is found within the answer.
'foxtrot' could be 'f' (phonetic alphabet: alpha, bravo, charlie etc.) and 'f' is found within the answer.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).
'and' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for defected that I've seen before include "Went over to the enemy" , "Turned traitor" .)