The intelligence sharing relationship between German and American spy agencies is one of dominance and blackmail rather than cooperation, with Germany's BND acting as a "colony" used to help gather information for US authorities, German activist and publicist Christoph Horstel said.

There has been much speculation regarding the seemingly close relationship between German and US intelligence agencies in recent times, following German media reports alleging that Berlin's foreign intelligence agency — the BND — spied on various European targets on behalf of America's National Security Agency (NSA).

According to the reports, the NSA had been given access to the e-mails of various European politicians, EU institutions and European member state ministries.

This led many to suggest Germany was complicit with the US in operating an illegal global spy network. Chancellor Angela Merkel denied Germany was involved in illegal activity, telling journalists that it was essential for the BND to keep working with the NSA in order to ensure the safety of citizens.

'A Big Show, A Big Farce'

However, Christoph Horstel believes that while Berlin does act on behalf of Washington's intelligence agencies, he told Sputnik that the relationship is very one-sided.

"Well this is a big show, a big farce. All of the political insiders know what the real question is. The real question is that this is not cooperation; Germany is [a] colony."

Horstel points out that the former US Office of Strategic Services (OSS) — which later become the CIA — established the German BND, and he believes it has been set up to look after Washington's European interests.

"What we do have here, in fact, is a written understanding that the BND has to give — free of charge — any of the fruits of its work to the CIA. That is quite normal," he said.

"The Americans are the masters of the game in Europe, so we [Germany] have to deliver to them. It's a kind of service; a service of Germany to the US and we have to do that — that's fact."

German Officials 'Blackmailed' by US

Despite German Chancellor Angela Merkel fronting the media to deny accusations that she was in any way complicit in allowing American authorities to illegally spy on European firms, Horstel believes the chancellor would be well aware of what practices are going on.

"If she [Merkel] was not very deeply cooperating with the Americans, she would not be chancellor. We have a double system to ensure that we do exactly as Washington wants.

"What we have here is a very clear-cut system of blackmail against anyone in a high position — that's number one," he said, suggesting that US access to German security files allows American authorities to hold German politicians to ransom.

If the US spies on EU partners there is a huge outcry ("spying on friends = no-go"). But if Germany spies on EU partners nobody reacts? #BND — Jan Philipp Albrecht (@JanAlbrecht) May 3, 2015

Meanwhile, Horstel also believes an inherent American influence on German politics and media means that governments in favor of US policy are also elected, and the media consistently follows American rhetoric on international issues, such as the crisis in Ukraine.

"Number two is that when it comes to elections, you will get into a powerful enough position to win unless the Americans are nodding their head. This also applies to the army ranks and the media ranks.

"This is why it's important to note why the German media is so hostile to Russia. The Americans say it, and we [Germans] do it."