German minister: need to continue US intel co-operation

BERLIN – Germany’s foreign minister says it’s “absolutely necessary” to continue intelligence co-operation with the United States amid a furor over President Donald Trump’s discussions with Russian diplomats.

Sigmar Gabriel said after meeting Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Washington late Wednesday that intelligence co-operation didn’t come up in their talks.

Asked whether Germany can still trust the U.S. when it comes to sharing intelligence, Gabriel said there is “a strong intelligence co-operation between us and the United States and that’s absolutely necessary for our own security.”

He added: “I’m sure that we will continue the co-operation.”

The White House has played down the importance and secrecy of information that Trump that gave to the Russian foreign minister and ambassador, which had been supplied by Israel under an intelligence-sharing agreement.