The United States has hinted at displeasure with Germany over its handling of a spying row, which saw the CIA chief in Berlin thrown out of the country.
The White House, however, rejected suggestions the showdown over apparent US recruiting of double agents could damage broader ties with the Berlin Government and cooperation on issues like Ukraine.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest, who has all week declined to go into detail about the row because it touches on intelligence matters, did offer a window into US thinking.
“Allies with sophisticated intelligence agencies like the United States and Germany understand with some degree of detail exactly what those intelligence relationships and activities entail,” Earnest said.