The German Ministry of Defence has reported increased vigilance regarding extremist tendencies within the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces). A ministry spokesperson stated in Berlin on Friday that there is “a noticeably heightened sensitivity within the troops” concerning this issue.
The spokesperson further emphasized that all commanding officers are aware that the downplaying or ignoring of extremist aspirations within the Bundeswehr will not be tolerated. Reference was also made to a report from the Coordination Centre for Extremism Suspicions (KfE), which is expected to be published “presumably next week.
The planned reduction in the level of security vetting for new recruits is being justified by Minister Boris Pistorius’s ministry as a response to often lengthy processing times for these checks. However, the ministry insists this does not constitute a weakening of security standards. The spokesperson clarified that the changes are “essentially about efficiency and, above all, speed” when responding to questions regarding the matter.