Publication

This commentary argues that the revelations about US surveillance of Germany's citizens have caused the largest crisis of confidence in relations between the two countries since the 2003 Iraq war. The authors say that Germany wishes to continue close cooperation with the US, however, it also wants to change the legal basis of this cooperation. Indeed, they say that Berlin wants to join the intelligence alliance the US has with the UK, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. However, they also assert that the US will not agree to such changes, something which could contribute to a continuation of distrust and tension in US-German relations.