Tensions between Germany and US over Another Case of Espionage

Berlin demands an explanation following the arrest of a double agent working for the NSA. “Enough,” said the German president.

The espionage scandal is still a headache for the Obama administration. Last Friday, after becoming aware of the arrest of a German secret double agent who allegedly sent information to Washington, Germany demanded that the United States come clean “once and for all” about its espionage activities. This might create a new rift between the two countries.

The opening of a new investigation, months after the revelation that the American intelligence services allegedly tapped the cellphone of Chancellor Angela Merkel, outraged several German politicians.

“It’s a heavy accusation. I expect a quick and decisive reaction on the American side,” said German Minister of the Interior Thomas de Maiziere, to channel ARD. “The United States is Germany’s main partner. However, that doesn’t mean that we’re unconditional friends.” First of all, according to the public servant, it will be necessary to shed light on the case; only then could we start talking about the extent of the scandal and its consequences, he added.

German authorities are working on the verifications of the statements given by a secret agent of the federal intelligence service — BND, as per its initials in German. The 31-year-old man confessed to selling 218 German confidential documents to the United States in return for 25,000 euros. According to reconstructions made by the press with the help of confidential sources, the spy would have worked from 2012, sending information to the National Security Agency (NSA) as well as the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

The case might prove to be a risk to the relationship between the countries. In the last few months, both tried to emphasize their closeness after the revelations of former NSA employee Edward Snowden showed the world, exactly a year ago, the intense American communication control activities in Germany. Even Merkel’s cellphone came up on a list of objectives.

Berlin’s requests for clarifications received no answer. Attempts to reach an agreement between the governments failed spectacularly because the U.S. refused to renounce its position. The German government then tried to forget about the matter, but the new revelations have forced Berlin to react.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Frank Walter Steinmeier expressed his worries. “If reports are true, we don’t talk about small stuff,” he wrote on his Twitter account. American Ambassador John B. Emerson was summoned to the offices of said ministry to provide an explanation.

Meanwhile, President of the Federal Republic Joachim Gauck was outraged upon learning about these revelations. Gauck, who opposed the socialist regime of East Germany, is considered one of the major advocates of the trans-Atlantic relationship. “This is a dangerous game to play with friendships. [If the allegations are confirmed] it’ll truly be too much.” Enough, said Gauck.

Investigation

Germany has been the only country so far that has taken concrete steps to investigate Washington’s espionage activities in its territory. Right now, besides the investigation being performed on the alleged double agent, a parliamentary investigatory commission and the attorney general are working on the tapping of Merkel’s phone. Two former NSA employees, William Binney and Thomas Drake, spoke last week before the commission regarding the programs for the massive control of communications approved after 9/11.

But the commission might not be that safe of a place either: Among the documents sold by the spy, there could be some that relate to the activities of that parliamentary body.

Merkel was informed of the facts last Thursday, on the eve of her trip to China, where she arrived yesterday. She still hasn’t issued a statement, but her spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said that the German government will wait for the results of the investigation. “There is no doubt that it’s a serious matter,” he said.

For her part, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who was in Berlin to promote her book, said that it was a “serious issue,” but added that her only knowledge of it was through the press.

Meanwhile, according to a survey commissioned by the magazine Der Spiegel, 57 percent of Germans are asking for more independence from the United States; 69 percent admitted that their trust in Washington went down in the last year since the beginning of the espionage scandal.

Re-incidence Bothers Berlin: Another Crisis Owing to a New Case of Espionage

In 2013, a former NSA spy uncovered a torrent of information on Washington’s espionage activities on friendly governments, among them Germany and Chancellor Angela Merkel, in particular.

Apologies

The Obama administration apologized to Berlin, but didn’t deny the accusations of tapping the German leader’s cellphone.

No Revelations

Despite the magnitude of the scandal and the potential damage to trans-Atlantic relationships, the United States didn’t come clean regarding the reach of its illegal activities in ally countries.

Arrest

Last Thursday, Germany detained a double agent who worked for the American intelligence services and had stolen over 200 documents since 2012.

Tension

Merkel’s government summoned the American ambassador and demanded from the U.S. an explanation regarding this new scandal.