Denmark’s intelligence service co-operated with the US's National Security Agency to spy on top-ranking European political allies, it was reported on Monday.
Communications from leaders such as Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel were intercepted by the Danish Defence Intelligence Service (FE) and passed on to the powerful NSA for several years.
Analysts from Denmark's Forsvarets Efterretningstjeneste secretly broke into undersea internet cables to listen to phone calls and read text messages from allies.
An investigation by several European media outlets including Danmark Radio (DR) also found that the two countries collaborated to spy on officials from Sweden, Norway and France.
The then German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and opposition leader Peer Steinbrück, were among the politicians whose phone numbers were bugged.
The allegations emerged after an internal classified report on FE’s role in the surveillance partnership agreement with the NSA between 2012 and 2014 was leaked to the media.
It also claimed that a special data centre was built to store the information at a Danish intelligence facility on the island of Amager, near Copenhagen.
The case, potentially the biggest intelligence scandal in Danish history, will raise issues of trust for the countries, most of which are members of both Nato and the European Union.
There was growing European anger and condemnation at the disclosures on Monday, with the German government saying that it would be in contact with the US and Denmark to demand an explanation.
"The federal government has taken note of the report and is in contact with all relevant national and international bodies for clarification," a government spokesman said. "As a matter of principle, and you already know this, I would ask you to understand that the federal government does not openly comment on matters concerning intelligence activities."
Sweden’s defence minister added to the condemnation of the two countries. “We want all the cards on the table," said Peter Hulqvist, adding it was “unacceptable to eavesdrop on allies.”
In Denmark, Karsten Hoenge, of the Socialist People’s Party, that supports Denmark’s Social Democratic government, said he would demand answers in parliament from the defence and justice ministers about the eavesdropping, which was codenamed Operation Dunhammer.
“The government must explain how Denmark has been acting as a willing tool for a US intelligence service, and what it will mean for co-operation with Denmark’s neighbouring countries,” he said.
Trine Bramsen, the Danish defence minister since 2019, was reportedly informed of the espionage in August last year. She told DR that “systematic eavesdropping of close allies” was “clearly unacceptable”.
“This is a deep, serious and disturbing breach of trust if the NSA spied on Norwegian politicians through Denmark,” said Audun Lysbakken, the leader of Norway’s Socialist Left Party.
Between allies, there must be trust
Clément Beaune, France’s Europe minister, described the reports as “extremely serious” if proven. “We need to see if our partners in the EU, the Danes, have committed errors in their co-operation with American services,” he told French radio. “Between allies, there must be trust, a minimal co-operation.”
The undersea cable spy system, described as the FE’s “crown jewel”, has mainly been used to gain intelligence on terrorist plots and information on Russia and China. Denmark acts as a hub for underwater internet cables, providing metadata that passes across the Baltic Sea into Scandinavia, mainland Europe and Russia.
The NSA’s tapping of Ms Merkel’s phone was first reported in 2013 when the American whistleblower Edward Snowden leaked a vast amount of information on the agency’s spying methods.
In the wake of the Snowden reports, former US president Barack Obama committed to stop spying on allies.
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
RESULT
Manchester United 2 Tottenham Hotspur 1
Man United: Sanchez (24' ), Herrera (62')
Spurs: Alli (11')
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Grubtech
Founders: Mohamed Al Fayed and Mohammed Hammedi
Launched: October 2019
Employees: 50
Financing stage: Seed round (raised $2 million)
Brolliology: A History of the Umbrella in Life and Literature
By Marion Rankine
Melville House
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE DETAILS
Kaala
Dir: Pa. Ranjith
Starring: Rajinikanth, Huma Qureshi, Easwari Rao, Nana Patekar
Rating: 1.5/5
RESULTS
Main card
Bantamweight 56.4kg: Mehdi Eljamari (MAR) beat Abrorbek Madiminbekov (UZB), Split points decision
Super heavyweight 94 kg: Adnan Mohammad (IRN) beat Mohammed Ajaraam (MAR), Split points decision
Lightweight 60kg: Zakaria Eljamari (UAE) beat Faridoon Alik Zai (AFG), RSC round 3
Light heavyweight 81.4kg: Taha Marrouni (MAR) beat Mahmood Amin (EGY), Unanimous points decision
Light welterweight 64.5kg: Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK) beat Nouredine Samir (UAE), Unanimous points decision
Light heavyweight 81.4kg: Ilyass Habibali (UAE) beat Haroun Baka (ALG), KO second round
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3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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Company Fact Box
Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
Read more about the coronavirus
How it works
Each player begins with one of the great empires of history, from Julius Caesar's Rome to Ramses of Egypt, spread over Europe and the Middle East.
Round by round, the player expands their empire. The more land they have, the more money they can take from their coffers for each go.
As unruled land and soldiers are acquired, players must feed them. When a player comes up against land held by another army, they can choose to battle for supremacy.
A dice-based battle system is used and players can get the edge on their enemy with by deploying a renowned hero on the battlefield.
Players that lose battles and land will find their coffers dwindle and troops go hungry. The end goal? Global domination of course.
