German Chancellor Angela Merkel, angry at revelations of US snooping on her, will discuss covert US surveillance in Europe with French President Francois Hollande on Thursday, a French diplomatic source said.
Merkel and Hollande, due to meet on the margins of an EU leaders’ summit overshadowed by the growing scandal, “will also obviously discuss it and how to coordinate their response,” a French diplomatic source said.
Earlier on Thursday, the German Government summoned the US ambassador to Berlin over reports Washington had monitored Merkel’s mobile phone, sparking outrage from the Chancellor.
Merkel called US President Obama on Wednesday to warn that if correct, it would amount to a “breach of trust” between international partners.
Merkel made clear to Obama that “she unequivocally disapproves of such practices, should they be confirmed, and regards them as completely unacceptable,” according to German Government statement. The chancellor also demanded “an immediate and comprehensive explanation” from Washington, it said. “Among close friends and partners, as the Federal Republic of Germany and the US have been for decades, there should be no such monitoring of the communications of a head of Government,” it added.
The White House said in response that the US is not now listening in on Merkel but did not deny the possibility her communications may have been intercepted in the past.
Earlier this week, Washington branded as inaccurate reports that it had spied on millions of French citizens but Hollande has pressed for EU leaders to take up the issue as part of wider efforts on data protection in the 28-member bloc.
Spying row hijacks EU summit, testing Europe’s unity
Mounting ire over alleged US snooping on its allies will test Europe’s unity at a summit on Thursday after German and French leaders Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande demanded Washington provide an explanation.
Initially expected to be “a routine affair”, according to a senior diplomat, the two-day talks from 1500 GMT between the European Union’s 28 heads of State and Government have been hijacked by the escalating row over covert US surveillance of its allies.