In this case, the „smooth cooperation“ of the secret services would be at risk, warns the US embassy.
In the dispute over a possible participation of the Chinese group Huawei in the construction of the German 5G network threatens the United States with a restriction of intelligence cooperation. Should the federal government rely on „unreliable“ partners, this could „jeopardize the smooth cooperation and exchange of some information in the future,“ said a US embassy spokesman.
The US embassy responded to a report by the Wall Street Journal. Accordingly, the US ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, had written on Friday a letter to Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier (CDU) and threatened with a termination of the previous intelligence cooperation. The Federal Ministry of Economics confirmed the receipt of the letter, which will now be examined and answered „promptly“.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said this warning a few weeks ago to countries that are considering deploying Huawei technology. If a state builds this technology into its critical infrastructures, the US could no longer share information with it.
US President Donald Trump signed a law in August banning the Washington government from doing business with companies that use substantial Huawei technology. The US government suspects the world market leader for mobile networks to maintain close ties with the Chinese government and abuse equipment or cell phones for espionage. Such fears are fueled by a Chinese law that obliges companies to cooperate with the government in Beijing when it comes to national security.
Nevertheless, the Chinese network equipment supplier in Germany should not be ruled out from the outset by the development of the 5G mobile network. However, in the interest of data protection must be ensured, „that any product that is installed, from the US, Europe and China, is also safe and that this does not happen unauthorized things that would be punishable in Germany,“ said Peter Altmaier in the past week.
The Federal Network Agency had announced the cornerstones of the requirements for the safety of technology on Thursday before the beginning of the auction of the 5G frequencies. Accordingly, only systems from „trusted suppliers“ may be obtained. The delivered components would have to be continuously checked for their safety. Companies and associations should now evaluate the cornerstones before they are included in the law.
For the US government, these regulations are not sufficient. As the Wall Street Journal reported, Ambassador Grenell warned in his letter to Altmaier that Beijing’s security bodies could force Chinese companies to cooperate „without democratic control.“ Therefore, the „risk“ of a stake Huawei „impossible to be defused.“
Huawei is one of the world’s leading telecommunications equipment providers, including for the construction of 5G mobile networks. The new standard is intended to pave the way for a range of future technologies.
