Germany has asked the top U.S. intelligence official in Berlin to leave the country, following two reported cases of suspected U.S. spying and the year-long spat over eavesdropping by the National Security Agency.
German Government spokesman Steffen Seibert said in a statement yesterday that the representative of the U.S. intelligence services at the United States embassy has been asked to leave Germany.
He said, the request occurred against the backdrop of the ongoing investigation by federal prosecutors as well as the questions that were posed months ago about the activities of US intelligence agencies in Germany.
Seibert said, the government takes the matter very seriously.
Shortly before the decision was announced, Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters that Germany and the United States had very different approaches to the role of intelligence agencies.
She stressed the need for greater trust between allies, a position she has repeatedly voiced since reports last year that the National Security Agency eavesdropped on her cellphone.
In separate cases over the past 10 days, one man has been arrested and an investigation against another has been launched on suspicion that they worked for foreign intelligence. German media has reported that the men are suspected of passing secrets to the US.
Meanwhile, the White House has refused to comment on the spying issue, reports the Verge.
