U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says he doesn’t know all the particulars about allegations that the U.S. bugged European Union offices. But he says many nations engaged in international affairs undertake lots of different kinds of activities to protect their national interests.
EU Foreign Affairs chief Catherine Ashton raised the issue with Mr. Kerry on Monday during a meeting on the sidelines of a security conference in Brunei.
The Obama administration is facing a breakdown in confidence from key U.S. allies over secret surveillance programs that reportedly installed covert listening devices in EU offices.
Several European officials, including officials in Germany, Italy, France, Luxembourg and the EU government itself, say the new revelations could scuttle ongoing negotiations on a trans-Atlantic trade treaty.
