BERLIN — Germany's foreign minister said Friday that new allegations of U.S. eavesdropping on senior German government officials' telephones need to be clarified "as quickly as possible" and that he hoped Washington would be forthcoming with information.
Reports two years ago that Angela Merkel's cellphone was monitored by the U.S. National Security Agency caused friction between Berlin and Washington, and the latest diplomatic affront came Wednesday when WikiLeaks published a list of German phone numbers it said showed the agency eavesdropped on senior German officials beyond the chancellor.
In the wake of the report, Frank-Walter Steinmeier said it was important for Germany to continue to work closely with the United States on many international issues including negotiations over Iran's nuclear program, but that he hoped for a quick explanation from Washington.
"I hope the Americans will be helpful in this clarification," he told reporters. "Whether that is the case, we'll see in the coming days."
The 2013 report that the NSA had snooped on Merkel's cellphone prompted President Barack Obama to pledge he wouldn't allow America's massive communications surveillance capability to damage relations with close allies.
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