Argentina Calls for Cyber Shield Against US Spies

(Vatican Radio) Argentina's Minister of Defence Agustin Rossi is urging South America to form a cyber shield against US spying incursions.

Agustin Rossi suggested this cyber defence strategy during a meeting in Brasilia with his opposite number Celso Amorim, who the Minister of Defence for Brazil. Rossi stressed that UNASUR, which is the Union of South American Nations must establish a coordinated plan to deflect this type of spying.

Amorim said that if UNASUR does not act on this issue, then Brazil and Argentina will be obliged to bi-laterally act. Both countries have already signed a military agreement by which Brazilian experts will train Argentine technicians in defence technique against cyber warfare.

The issue has flared, following revelations by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden involving massive communications surveillance on Brazil including its President Dilma Rousseff, and a similar pattern targeting Argentina.

President Rousseff cancelled a State visit to Washington about this scandal, but more so concerning the slow and listless response from the Administration of President Barack Obama.

Listen to James Blears’ report: