The president of Brazil said Friday that President Obama has taken responsibility for the U.S. spying on her, and that Mr. Obama has promised to provide a written explanation to the Brazilian government for the surveillance by next week.
President Dilma Rousseff, who has threatened to cancel a state visit to Washington next month over the spying, said she might proceed with the visit if Mr. Obama’s explanations prove to be satisfactory.
“My trip to Washington depends on the political conditions to be created by President Obama,” said Ms. Rousseff, according to the official Twitter feed of the Brazilian presidency.
Mr. Obama spoke to the Brazilian leader privately Thursday at the G-20 summit in St. Petersburg, Russia, after she canceled a trip to Washington by a team of aides who were to lay the groundwork for her visit on Oct. 23.
Brazilian officials said Ms. Rousseff was infuriated by news reports earlier this week that the National Security Agency had monitored her emails, phone calls and text messages.
Officials said Ms. Rousseff wants a public apology from Mr. Obama.
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Ms. Rousseff, speaking to reporters before leaving the G-20 Friday, said Mr. Obama had agreed to respond formally to the spying allegations by next Wednesday. She said Mr. Obama pledged to be directly responsible for investigating what happened.
The news report in Brazil was based on documents leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden. Journalist Glenn Greenwald, who contributed to the report, is based in Brazil.
Among the topics Ms. Rousseff is likely to discuss with Mr. Obama next month is the proposed $4 billion sale of F-18 Super Hornet fighter jets to Brazil. The planes are manufactured by Boeing.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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