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In a surprising twist to the history of intelligence relations between close allies, Germany's Federal Intelligence Service (Bundesnachrichtendienst, or BND) allegedly intercepted and decrypted telephone communications of U.S. President Barack Obama over multiple years, according to detailed reporting by the German weekly Die Zeit.
The surveillance targeted calls made from Air Force One, the presidential aircraft. Sources familiar with the operations told journalists that the BND had identified a limited set of radio frequencies used for these communications and discovered vulnerabilities in the encryption system—described as "error-prone" at the time. Monitoring was reportedly sporadic rather than continuous, but it continued for an extended period until 2014.
Crucially, the operation lacked any formal approval from the German federal government. The United States was not included in the BND's official mandate for intelligence targets, making the activity highly sensitive. Transcripts were handled under strict internal protocols: produced in single copies, circulated only among the agency's top leadership, and destroyed afterward rather than archived. Some insights derived from these intercepts reportedly made their way into broader intelligence assessments shared with Chancellor Angela Merkel's office—without disclosing their true origin.
The End of the Operation and Broader Context
The eavesdropping is said to have ceased in 2014, coinciding with separate espionage scandals. That year, revelations emerged about U.S. surveillance of Merkel's personal mobile phone (exposed through Edward Snowden's leaks) and allegations that the BND had inadvertently monitored communications involving then-U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. When Berlin ordered an immediate halt to any such activities concerning American officials, the BND reportedly used the opportunity to quietly terminate the undisclosed Obama monitoring as well.
The irony has not gone unnoticed. In 2013, Merkel publicly condemned allied spying after learning of NSA activities targeting her, famously stating, "Spying among friends—that's just not done." Private conversations with Obama were reportedly even more pointed, with comparisons drawn to Cold War-era surveillance practices.
Espionage Among Allies: A Long-Standing Reality
While individual revelations often provoke outrage, intelligence experts have long acknowledged that even NATO partners routinely monitor one another. Such practices sometimes serve practical purposes, allowing governments to circumvent domestic restrictions on surveilling their own citizens by sharing information indirectly through allies.
Historical examples abound: European agencies have assisted U.S. efforts in some cases, while also conducting independent operations. The Obama-era disclosures add another layer to this complex picture, illustrating that intelligence activities flowed in both directions during a time of professed close partnership.
The revelations, first detailed in a January 2026 investigation by Die Zeit journalist Holger Stark, have reignited discussions about trust, oversight, and the boundaries of allied intelligence cooperation. Neither the BND nor current German officials have publicly commented on the specific claims.