Germany’s foreign intelligence chief Martin Jäger has warned that the country faces a growing risk of being drawn into a violent conflict with Russia, as tensions between Moscow and European countries intensify.
Speaking at a public hearing of the Bundestag’s Parliamentary Control Panel on Monday, Jäger, president of the Federal Intelligence Service (BND), said the confrontation with Russia had taken on a “new, more dangerous” dimension.
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Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
BND chief Martin Jäger warned of a risk of Germany becoming involved in a violent conflict with Russia.
He described Russia’s activities against Germany as an increasingly aggressive “shadow war”.
Germany has officially attributed the August Leipzig/Halle Airport incident to Russia.
Jäger said attacks against targets in Germany remain a real and current threat.
The BND does not currently see indications of a large-scale Russian attack on NATO territory.
Jäger said Germany was at risk of becoming involved in a violent conflict with Russia and described Moscow’s activities against Germany as a “shadow war”. He said the threat of attacks against targets in Germany remained real and current.
He cited the attempted attack involving a drone at Leipzig/Halle Airport in August as one example of the growing threat. The German government has officially attributed the August 4 incident to Russia, based on police investigations, the pattern of the attack and intelligence findings. The related criminal and legal proceedings are still continuing.
Jäger also warned that Russia could continue using intimidation, interference and other forms of hybrid activity to pressure Germany and weaken European support for Ukraine.
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Why This Matters
The warning highlights Germany’s growing concern over Russian hybrid activities and the possibility that escalating confrontation could lead to a wider security crisis in Europe.
However, he said the BND currently sees no indication of a large-scale Russian attack on NATO territory. He added that Russia could potentially undertake limited military activities, particularly in the Baltic region.
