The German federal government has signaled a strengthened commitment to its foreign intelligence agency, the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), with plans to enhance its international standing
Government officials announced intentions to provide the BND with increased financial, personnel and legal resources to address the current threat landscape The aim is to establish the agency as a key partner in international security cooperation
Martin Jäger, a former diplomat, is scheduled to officially succeed Bruno Kahl as head of the BND next Thursday Chancellor Friedrich Merz is expected to attend the inauguration ceremony The government has stated that Jäger’s mandate will be to further bolster the agency’s international position
Responding to questions, a deputy government spokesperson indicated that a key ambition is for the BND to operate on an equal footing with other Western intelligence services When pressed on whether the agency is currently meeting this standard, the spokesperson refrained from offering a direct assessment, noting only that ongoing evaluation remains a priority