Berlin stepped up the pressure on Washington on Monday over allegations of spying in Germany by a suspected double agent with Chancellor Angela Merkel describing the claims as serious and a possible breach of trust between the two allies.
“If the reports are correct, it would be a serious case,” Ms. Merkel told a joint press conference with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing.
She said the incident “would represent for me a clear contradiction as to what I consider to be trusting cooperation between agencies and partners.” The claims that a German intelligence agent had given sensitive information to the US authorities follow a stream of reports about US spying in Germany.
The US ambassador to Germany was called into the Foreign Office in Berlin on Friday following last week report that a 31-year-old man had been arrested for passing information to the US authorities over the last two years.
“I expect now for everyone to assist in rapidly clarifying the accusations along with quick and clear statements also by the US,” German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere told Bild on Monday.
