French and German leaders say it is unacceptable to spy on allies after a Danish broadcaster claimed the US and Denmark overheard countries like France, Germany and Norway.
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Monday they expected the US and Danish governments to issue statements on allegations that Washington, with Copenhagen’s help, was spying on European allies.
“That is not acceptable among allies,” said Macron after a virtual Franco-German meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel at a press conference.
“I am attached to the relationship of trust that binds Europeans and Americans,” said Macron, adding that “there is no room for mistrust between us.”
“That is why we are waiting for complete clarity. We have asked our Danish and American partners to provide all information on these revelations and on these past facts. We are waiting for these answers, ”he said.
Merkel said she could “only agree” with the statements made by the French head of state.
According to a report by Danish public broadcaster Danmarks Radio (DR), an internal investigation by the Danish Defense Intelligence Service (FE) found that the US National Security Agency (NSA) was using the FE to eavesdrop on Danish information cables to spy on senior officials in Sweden, Norway, France and Germany from 2012 to 2014.
In addition to Merkel, the NSA also spied on the then German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the former German opposition leader Peer Steinbruck, said DR.
The investigation found that the NSA had access to large streams of data traveling to and from Denmark over internet cables, tapping everything from text messages and phone calls to internet traffic including searches, chats and messaging services.
DR said its report was based on interviews with nine unnamed sources, all of whom are believed to have had access to classified information from the FE.
On Monday, Swedish Defense Minister Peter Hulqvist said it was “unacceptable to eavesdrop on allies” and added: “We want the cards on the table”.
Danish MP Karsten Hoenge from the left-wing People’s Socialist Party, which supports Denmark’s social democratic government, said on Monday that he would question the Scandinavian country’s defense and justice ministers in parliament on the case.
“The government needs to explain how Denmark came to be a willing tool for US intelligence and what that will mean for cooperation with Denmark’s neighboring countries,” he said.
Denmark, a close ally of the US, is home to several important landing stations for subsea internet cables to and from Sweden, Norway, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK.
“Good starting point”
Merkel said at the summit that she was “reassured” by statements from the Danish government, in particular from Defense Minister Trine Bramsen, who condemned such actions.
“Aside from establishing the facts, this is a good starting point for building truly trusting relationships,” she said.
Reports from 2013 that the NSA had wiretapped German government phones, including Merkel’s, sparked a diplomatic dispute between Berlin and Washington that strained otherwise good relations with the government of then President Barack Obama.
Merkel declared at the time that “espionage among friends” was unacceptable. Nonetheless, there were also reports that the German BND secret service may have helped the US spy on European companies and officials.
