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Reichstag Building, where German parliament is held (Photo: Trine Juel/Flickr/Common Dreams)
Germany Expels CIA Station Chief After Spying Scandals
CIA Berlin chief told to leave after discovery of second suspected double agent
Jul 10, 2014
Following the discovery of two German intelligence agents possibly working as spies for the U.S., the German government on Thursday ordered the expulsion of a CIA station chief operating in Berlin.
"The representative of the U.S. intelligence services at the Embassy of the United States of America was asked to leave Germany," said government spokesperson Steffen Seibert.
In order for Germany to work closely with its Western partners, particularly the U.S., "mutual trust and openness are necessary," Seibert said.
A German intelligence officer was arrested last week on suspicion of spying for the U.S. after he admitted to passing information to CIA agents about a parliamentary investigation into the NSA's surveillance program in the country. The scandal grew on Wednesday, when a defense ministry employee was also accused of working as a double-agent for the U.S. Although the second suspect has not been arrested, prosecutors said his home and offices were searched.
The news has increased tensions between the U.S. and Germany that began when Edward Snowden's leaked NSA documents revealed German Chancellor Angela Merkel was among the foreign officials being monitored.
After the first arrest, the CIA confirmed that it had been involved in the operation.
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Nadia Prupis
Nadia Prupis is a former Common Dreams staff writer. She wrote on media policy for Truthout.org and has been published in New America Media and AlterNet. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a BA in English in 2008.
Following the discovery of two German intelligence agents possibly working as spies for the U.S., the German government on Thursday ordered the expulsion of a CIA station chief operating in Berlin.
"The representative of the U.S. intelligence services at the Embassy of the United States of America was asked to leave Germany," said government spokesperson Steffen Seibert.
In order for Germany to work closely with its Western partners, particularly the U.S., "mutual trust and openness are necessary," Seibert said.
A German intelligence officer was arrested last week on suspicion of spying for the U.S. after he admitted to passing information to CIA agents about a parliamentary investigation into the NSA's surveillance program in the country. The scandal grew on Wednesday, when a defense ministry employee was also accused of working as a double-agent for the U.S. Although the second suspect has not been arrested, prosecutors said his home and offices were searched.
The news has increased tensions between the U.S. and Germany that began when Edward Snowden's leaked NSA documents revealed German Chancellor Angela Merkel was among the foreign officials being monitored.
After the first arrest, the CIA confirmed that it had been involved in the operation.
_____________________
Nadia Prupis
Nadia Prupis is a former Common Dreams staff writer. She wrote on media policy for Truthout.org and has been published in New America Media and AlterNet. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a BA in English in 2008.
Following the discovery of two German intelligence agents possibly working as spies for the U.S., the German government on Thursday ordered the expulsion of a CIA station chief operating in Berlin.
"The representative of the U.S. intelligence services at the Embassy of the United States of America was asked to leave Germany," said government spokesperson Steffen Seibert.
In order for Germany to work closely with its Western partners, particularly the U.S., "mutual trust and openness are necessary," Seibert said.
A German intelligence officer was arrested last week on suspicion of spying for the U.S. after he admitted to passing information to CIA agents about a parliamentary investigation into the NSA's surveillance program in the country. The scandal grew on Wednesday, when a defense ministry employee was also accused of working as a double-agent for the U.S. Although the second suspect has not been arrested, prosecutors said his home and offices were searched.
The news has increased tensions between the U.S. and Germany that began when Edward Snowden's leaked NSA documents revealed German Chancellor Angela Merkel was among the foreign officials being monitored.
After the first arrest, the CIA confirmed that it had been involved in the operation.
_____________________
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