WASHINGTON — In their first telephone conversation since revelations of American spying activities jarred relations between the United States and Germany, President Obama and Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday discussed what White House officials described as “ways to improve cooperation” in the wake of the scandal.

The officials described the call as “friendly and cordial,” though they provided few details about what was discussed. But a brief description in a White House statement left no doubt that the subject of spying came up.

“The president and the chancellor also exchanged views on U.S.-German intelligence cooperation, and the president said he’d remain in close communication on ways to improve cooperation going forward,” the statement said.

Relations between the United States and Germany have been frosty since documents leaked by Edward J. Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor, showed that Ms. Merkel’s personal cellphone had been tapped. The recent revelations that the United States had recruited spies in the German defense and intelligence agencies prompted Germany to expel the C.I.A. station chief from Berlin.