Rome prosecutors have opened a probe into claims that the United States US spied on Italy's ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi and his associates from 2008-201 and intercepted sensitive diplomatic cables.
Italy daily La Repubblica and weekly L'Espresso on Tuesday publicised leaked documents suggesting the US National Security Agency intercepted sensitive Italian diplomatic cables, including one about a 2011 meeting between Berlusconi, French president Nicolas Sarkozy and German chancellor Angela Merkel.
The diplomatic cable reveals a "a critical private meeting" between the three regarding the Italian financial system and debt crisis during which Berlusconi "was told the Italian banking system was ready to 'pop like a cork,'" WikiLeaks said.
In a statement online, WikiLeaks claimed on Tuesday the NSA also stole classified Italian diplomatic cables detailing how Berlusconi promised in 2010 to help the Jewish State mend ties with the US president Barack Obama amid a diplomatic crisis triggered by Netanyahu's plans to build 1,600 houses in East Jerusalem.
Accordinging to L'Espresso, both interceptions were carried out by the NSA's Special Collection Service, which has two teams in Italy - one in Rome and one in Milan, according to a leaked document by whistleblower Edward Snowden cited by the magazine in 2013.
The SCS is believed to deploy teams under diplomatic cover, operating in US embassies and consulates to monitor friendly and enemy governments, often in close collaboration with the CIA.
The a US government spokesman on Tuesday said it does not eavesdrop on citizens of foreign countries "unless there is a specific and validated national security purpose."
"As allies and partners, we will continue to work closely with Italy to protect the collective security of our two countries and of our citizens," the spokesmen added, speaking after the Wikileaks spying claims were publicised.
