Anger Growing Among Allies Over US Surveillance

Allies who have long provided steadfast support to the US now question if the National Security Agency targeted communications of leaders like German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto, as suggested by documents released by a former contract worker. The questions follow reports by Le Monde that the NSA collected millions of French digital communications in just one month as well as surveillance of French diplomatic communications in the United States, which were then allegedly used to secure a June 2010 UN vote on sanctions against Iran. “The damage to core American relationships continues to mount,” reports Alison Smale for the New York Times. Merkel described such surveillance as “a grave breach of trust.” So far, German and other officials express disbelief, but will likely order a review of the communication patterns, hunting for potential abuses on trade, investments and other matters unrelated to security. In the meantime, trust and cooperation on pressing global challenges may be put on hold. – YaleGlobal

Anger Growing Among Allies Over US Surveillance

Obama scrambles to field questions from allies about intrusive surveillance procedures; Merkel contends that basic rights may have been violated
Alison Smale
Thursday, October 24, 2013
© 2013 The New York Times Company