A former NATO general is lending considerable weight to a proposal by German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt to establish a national drone defense center, sparking debate about the scope of authority and speed of implementation within Germany’s security apparatus. Christian Badia, who recently concluded a role as deputy commander of NATO’s Allied Strategic Command responsible for future warfare, argues that the escalating drone threat necessitates a centralized, coordinated response integrating the Bundeswehr, federal and state police forces and civilian aviation authorities.
Speaking to “Welt” Badia emphasized the blurring lines between internal and external security, asserting that an integrated approach is no longer optional but a critical necessity for real-time threat mitigation and legally sound responses tiered according to risk level. His proposal envisions a central hub capable of directing drone defense measures, a move some critics suggest consolidates power and raises concerns about civilian oversight.
A key element of Badia’s plan involves equipping the Bundeswehr with advanced capabilities to address large-scale threats like armed drone swarms. Simultaneously, he contends that local police forces require their own, albeit scaled-down, equipment, avoiding a scenario where every agency possesses identical resources. He strongly advocates for regular joint exercises across all levels, drawing parallels to crisis management protocols of the past, to build national resilience.
Beyond governmental agencies, Badia’s perspective extends to critical infrastructure operators. He argues that facilities such as power plants and chemical parks should be empowered – specifically through the deployment of sensor technology and non-lethal countermeasures – to detect and respond to drone incursions. This suggestion has ignited debate concerning liability, potential misuse of authority and the broader implications for civil liberties. He stresses the urgent need for clear legal frameworks outlining the permissible scope of such operator actions.
Badia’s assessment is sharp: Germany has been aware of the drone threat since the Afghanistan conflict, yet progress has been unacceptably slow. He accuses policymakers of excessive deliberation and calls for immediate action to safeguard national security, a sentiment likely to intensify pressure on the government to accelerate the establishment of a robust and legally sound drone defense strategy. The debate now centers not just on whether to act, but how rapidly and with what degree of control.