Denmark allegedly helped the US spy on European politicians, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, from 2012 to 2014, according to Danish media. Denmark's Defence Intelligence Service (FE) collaborated with the US National Security Agency (NSA) to collect information, according to a report by broadcaster Danmark Radio (DR).
According to reports, information was gathered from officials from Germany, France, Sweden and Norway.
Similar allegations emerged in 2013.
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Then, according to secrets leaked by American whistleblower Edward Snowden, the NSA tapped the German Chancellor's phone.
When these allegations were made, the White House did not make any denials, but said that Merkel's phone did not have a bug then and would not have one in the future.
Germany is a close ally of the US.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and a spokesman for Angela Merkel said they were unaware of Denmark's participation until the DR report, which was shared with other European media outlets over the weekend.
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The NSA is said to have accessed messages and phone conversations of certain prominent individuals using Danish internet cables in collaboration with FE.
The alleged organization, according to the report codenamed “Operation Dunhammer,” allowed the NSA to obtain data using politicians’ phone numbers as search parameters, according to Danmark Radio.
Along with Merkel, then-German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the opposition leader at the time, Peer Steinbrück, were also said to have been targeted. "Politically I see it as a scandal," Steinbrück told German media.
Danish Defense Minister Trine Bramsen, who was reportedly informed about the spying earlier, told DR that "systematic phone tapping of close allies is unacceptable.
Other European politicians have condemned the reports.
Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solbergtold public broadcaster NRK: "It is unacceptable if countries that have close allied cooperation feel the need to spy on each other."
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France's European Affairs Minister, Clement Beaune, told France Info that the allegations were "extremely serious.
Neither the FE nor the NSA have yet commented on the latest reports.
Following the new report, Snowden accused US President Joe Bidenof being “deeply involved in this scandal for the first time.” Biden was US vice president at the time the reported surveillance took place.
"There should be an explicit demand for full disclosure not only from Denmark, but also their senior partner," he said on Twitter.
Who is Edward Snowden?
In 2013, Snowden – a former contractor for the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) – leaked information to the media about the US’s extensive internet and telephone surveillance. The US then charged him with theft of government property, unauthorized communication of national defence information and intentional communication of classified information. Snowden found refuge in Russia.
Source of information: bbc.com
