BERLIN (AP) – Senior security officials in Germany said Monday they are optimistic about intelligence sharing with the United States and Britain, despite friction in other policy areas in recent months.
Speaking at a gathering of intelligence experts in Berlin, Germany’s top security official said cooperation with the Trump administration was “excellent” when it came to combating terrorism.
While a meeting in Sicily exposed deep differences between the United States and other members of the Group of Seven on issues such as climate change and trade, Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said there was relative unanimity when it came to joint anti-terrorism measures.
“The issue of security brings everyone together,” he said.
De Maiziere’s comments echoed those of Germany’s domestic intelligence chief, Hans-Georg Maassen, who told public broadcaster ARD that “we have always viewed the Americans as reliable partners, despite all the problems we had in recent years” – a reference to U.S. spies eavesdropping on German government phones.