Madrid, In a shocking revelation, Spain has taken decisive action by expelling two US embassy staff members accused of infiltrating the Spanish CNI intelligence service. El Pais, a leading newspaper, reported on Thursday that these individuals managed to compromise the CNI by allegedly bribing two of its officers.
Earlier in the week, government ministers confirmed the arrest of two Spanish intelligence officers, originally reported by El Confidencial, on charges of passing confidential information to Washington. The exact nature of the information exchanged remains undisclosed.
The suspicions arose when the two CNI agents were observed accessing classified information beyond their authorized scope. While the specific details of the leaked information remain unclear, it is known that the two Spanish intelligence officers were recruited by the expelled US embassy spies.
El Pais reported, “At least two US agents stationed at the US Embassy in Madrid, who were directly involved in the recruitment of CNI spies, have been discreetly expelled from Spain.” The expulsion of US embassy staff members underscores the seriousness of the breach.
This espionage scandal has raised eyebrows given the historically positive relationship between Spain and the United States, both being NATO members. The Defence Minister, Margarita Robles, and the Foreign Minister, Jose Manuel Albares, have separately sought explanations from the US ambassador regarding these troubling developments.
By AFP
