German Chancellor Angela Merkel is doubtful the U.S. will stop spying on Germany.

According to the Associated Press, the chancellor said in an interview with public broadcaster ZDF "I think it's not that easy to convince the Americans ... to completely change the way their intelligence services work."

Germany demanded Washington's top spy in Berlin leave the country as a new round of allegations of U.S. espionage worsened the friction between the two allies.

That move followed reports that U.S. intelligence had recruited two Germans — a man who worked at the country's foreign intelligence agency and a defense ministry employee.

Asked whether she expected the Americans to change their behavior when it comes to spying on Germany, Merkel said "I can't predict that, but certainly hope it will change."