Danish Broadcasting Corporation recently launched a special report, saying that the National Security Agency of the United States monitors the leaders of European allies through Danish intelligence agencies. Many European countries are highly concerned about this and believe that it is true, its nature is bad and unacceptable, and urge Denmark and the United States to make an explanation as soon as possible. According to the analysis, this incident may have a new impact on the relationship between Europe and the United States.

The report quoted an internal investigation report on the Danish Defense Intelligence Agency, saying that from 2012 to 2014, the US National Security Agency, with the support of the Danish Defense Intelligence Agency, accessed the Danish Internet and used analysis software to obtain relevant data information The voice and text communications of leaders and senior officials of Norway and other European allies were monitored comprehensively.

On May 31, French President Malone and German Chancellor Merkel asked the United States and Denmark to explain the interception at the video conference of French and German ministers. Makron said: "If this news is confirmed, it is unacceptable among the allies." Merkel supported Makron's statement in her speech. The head of the committee of the German Federal Parliament responsible for investigating the previous US wiretapping incident, Heinzberg, said that the driving force behind the wiretapping incident "is not friendship, nor morality, but the pursuit of interests".

Norwegian Prime Minister Solberg told Norwegian National Radio that it is unreasonable and unacceptable for allies like the United States and Denmark to monitor Norway, which will create distrust among allies. Swedish Prime Minister Lewin said that the monitoring incident must be thoroughly investigated, and said Swedish Defense Minister Hultquist had communicated with Danish and Norwegian officials on the matter.

This is not the first time that monitoring incidents have been exposed between Europe and the United States. In 2013, Snowden, a former employee of the U.S. defense contractor, disclosed to the media the large-scale surveillance program implemented by the United States against allies, which triggered a huge dispute within the EU over the security and privacy issues of transatlantic cooperation, and directly led to the termination of cooperation between Europe and the United States on cross-border data transmission and other issues. If this incident is finally confirmed, it means that the United States has not stopped spying against allies after the Snowden Incident.

According to the plan, US President Biden will start his first trip to Europe since taking office in mid June. Rebuilding transatlantic mutual trust and cooperation is one of its important goals. According to the analysis of European media, the exposure of the "listening gate" event undoubtedly cast a shadow on Biden's visit to Europe, which will add more difficulty and uncertainty to the ongoing negotiations on a new round of transatlantic data transmission agreement between the two sides.

(Our newspaper, Brussels, June 3)

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