World Courant
Spanish newspaper El Pais reviews that the US has quietly withdrawn two staffers on the request of the Spanish authorities.
Spain has expelled two US embassy staffers following allegations that they tried to bribe Spanish intelligence officers in alternate for secrets and techniques.
Spanish Protection Minister Margarita Robles mentioned on Thursday that Spain had filed a criticism with the US, however that the incident wouldn’t harm diplomatic relations between the 2 nations.
“Spain and the US are associates, allies and companions,” she advised reporters. “If there are points that might have an effect on us, they’re mentioned and addressed, however that by no means impacts the relationships we have now.”
El Pais newspaper reported that two unnamed embassy officers had been discreetly eliminated at Madrid’s request, following an investigation which revealed they’d obtained a “massive sum” of data from Spanish intelligence brokers.
Robles confirmed {that a} judicial investigation was wanting into “irregular habits” on the CNI, Spain’s intelligence service. The content material of the fabric shared with the 2 embassy workers is just not clear.
El Pais reported {that a} CNI space head and his assistant had been arrested two months in the past, however a courtroom ordered that their case stay secret. The newspaper added that US Ambassador Julissa Reynoso denied any information or involvement when summoned by Spanish authorities.
“At the least two US brokers stationed on the US Embassy in Madrid, who had been instantly concerned within the recruitment of CNI spies, have been discreetly expelled from Spain,” reads the El Pais story.
Whereas makes an attempt to recruit brokers from a rustic’s intelligence equipment are a type of espionage typical of relations between hostile powers, El Pais referred to as the incident “an overtly hostile act” unbecoming of “associates or allies.”
The Spanish newspaper El Confidencial first reported on Monday concerning the arrest of the 2 CNI workers. When requested concerning the incident on Monday, US Nationwide Safety Advisor Jake Sullivan declined to remark.
The US Embassy in Madrid and the Spanish Ministry of Overseas Affairs additionally declined to touch upon the case.
Spain expels two US embassy workers for bribing intelligence brokers | Spy information
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