German security agencies are collaborating for the first time to produce a joint assessment of “hybrid threats” encompassing sabotage, espionage, disinformation campaigns and state-sponsored terrorism, particularly those attributed to nations like Russia.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and the Federal Criminal Police Office, aims to consolidate “operative intelligence” gathered by the agencies regarding these complex threats. The resulting analysis is slated for presentation to the Interior Ministers’ Conference by autumn, according to a government response to a parliamentary inquiry by the Green Party, as reported by “Der Spiegel”.
This development, however, has drawn criticism. Konstantin von Notz, the Green Party’s expert on interior affairs, expressed concerns that the current plan falls short of what is truly needed. He argues the lack of a comprehensive, cross-departmental overview – critical for promptly identifying, assessing and countering attacks on vital infrastructure, businesses and military installations – remains a significant gap.
Von Notz emphasized the necessity of integrating information from both federal and state entities, as well as incorporating data from both civilian and military sources into a unified “overall situational assessment”. He stated that “only through the precise recognition of threats can effective countermeasures be implemented”. The number of suspected acts of sabotage originating from Russia has reportedly increased substantially since the onset of the war in Ukraine.