New spy leak: Denmark part of NSA ‘inner circle’

Documents leaked by US whistleblower Edward Snowden show that Denmark is part of an exclusive ‘second-tier’ group, named ‘9-Eyes’, that collaborate on intelligence gathering, reports Seven59.dk and b.dk.

The group of countries is an extension of the more elite 5-Eyes, which includes the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Denmark, France, the Netherlands, and Norway join in to make 9-Eyes and enjoy access to more classified intelligence material than the third tier ‘14-Eyes’ which numbers Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain and Sweden.

Should come clean

Former head of Danish Intelligence (PET), Hans Jørgen Bonnichsen, said he wasn’t surprised at Denmark’s high ranking. He said:

“We have traditionally been closely linked to agencies such as the CIA since World War 2 and this has helped to build up the trust and respect that’s decisive in the world of intelligence.”

Both Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt and Justice Minister Morten Bødskov have so far declined to comment on reports of any collaboration with foreign intelligence agencies but the Red/ Greens have now called on them to come clean.

Good reason to be mistrustful

“The government needs to provide some insight about the Americans’ intelligence gathering and whether Danes’ phones and e-mails have been monitored,” said spokesman Nikolaj Villumsen.

“People have good reason to be mistrustful and that won’t go away unless the government helps to build confidence in PET and the collaboration that exists with other countries.”

See b.dk’s article (in Danish) here.

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