Spain** has expelled three American spies and asked a fourth to leave Spain as well, according to reference sources. These expulsions were carried out after the Ministry of Defense, which belongs to the National Intelligence Center, as well as Spain, made an official complaint against the United States.
On the 5th, Spain confirmed that two intelligence officers of the National Intelligence Center were suspected of providing intelligence to the United States, and now there are several intelligence officers under investigation. According to sources, Spain is outraged by the infiltration of the United States into Spanish intelligence agencies.
One of the two is a regional head with 30 years of experience. During the pandemic, he took time off work and worked for a U.S. company, and was imprisoned in makeshift two months ago. The other, a lower-ranking procurement staff member at the National Intelligence Center, was an assistant to the former.
Spanish sources said there may have been more than two "spies" stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Spain involved and directly involved in recruiting intelligence for Spain's National Intelligence Center.
According to a source in the Spanish Ministry of Defense, the United States** is stationed in its embassy and is considered a "registered person", that is, it is recognized by the Spanish intelligence services. With recognition, American spies could operate more freely on Spanish territory and deal with other **. However, they took advantage of the situation to recruit two members of the Spanish National Intelligence Center and paid them, at least in some cases, in exchange for classified information.
The U.S. ambassador to Spain, Julissa Reynoso, denied knowledge or involvement when summoned by the authorities and apologized.
Spanish Minister of Defense Margarita Robles data map. Source: Visual China.
According to reports, on the 7th local time, Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles admitted that a judicial investigation was being conducted into the "misconduct" of the people involved, but the specific content of the "intelligence" was not yet known.
When issues arise that may affect us, we discuss and deal with them, but this does not affect our relationship in any way. Robles said Spain had filed a complaint with the United States, but that Spain and the United States were allies and that the incident would not harm diplomatic relations between the two countries.
*: Governor of Chang'an Street WeChat***Reporter Tan Qing.