For Merkel, the Spying is ‘Serious’

She warned that she is against the idea of mutual trust with the United States.

Worried by the new spy scandal, German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned yesterday that if reports that a German intelligence agent spied for the United States are proven true, it would suggest a “clear contradiction” of the idea of mutual trust between the two allies.

It was Merkel’s first public mention of the arrest last week of a 31 year-old man suspected of being a double agent. “If the reports are correct, it would be a serious case,” she said during her visit to China, the country responsible for receiving cyber-attacks from German companies.

“Spying destroys faith in the world,”* stated Merkel.

The agent of the German secret services (BND) is accused of having sold 218 documents to the United States secret services in exchange for 25,000 euros.

Despite these documents not containing sensitive information, the incident caused a huge uproar in Germany, where efforts to clear up the NSA spying scandal on German soil — even accused of intercepting Merkel’s mobile — can take several months.

Before the latest scandal, Germany increased pressure on the United States to shed light on the situation.

For its part, the U.S. government promised yesterday that it would work with Germany to “appropriately resolve” the reports of the suspected double agent. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said in a press conference that he is aware that a German citizen was arrested for “purportedly” leaking information to U.S. Congressman.

However, Earnest added that he wasn’t in a position to comment on the case because it is “German law enforcement investigation.” Furthermore, it is “a purportedly direct intelligence matter as it relates to the United States,” on which the White House will not comment, added the press secretary.

“The relationship that the United States has with Germany is incredibly important. This is a very close partnership … built on respect and it’s built on decades of cooperation and shared values …So we’re going to work with the Germans to resolve this situation appropriately,” Earnest confirmed.

Since then, a delegated investigation committee of the German Bundestag traveled yesterday to the United States to solve the spying incident.

Five politicians, representatives of all Parliamentary fractions, will meet over the next two days with members of the United States Congress and State Department. Furthermore, they confirmed a meeting in New York with the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon.

*Editor’s note: Quotation, accurately translated, could not be verified.