German Green Party’s Security Policy Expert Calls for Strengthening of German Intelligence Agencies
German Green Party’s security policy expert, Konstantin von Notz, has urged a massive strengthening of Germany’s intelligence agencies, citing the hostile activities of Russia and other countries. In an interview with the Spiegel, von Notz stated that sabotage, cyberattacks and the use of drones to spy on military installations and critical infrastructure are a daily occurrence in Germany, with many still unaware of the gravity of the situation.
Notz emphasized that the aggressiveness of countries like Russia, China, North Korea and Iran has significantly increased and that Germany is the primary target of hybrid attacks in Europe. He criticized the German Federal Intelligence Service (BND) and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (Verfassungsschutz) for not being adequately equipped to deal with the threat.
The prevention of espionage and sabotage has long been neglected, von Notz said and now it is essential to build new capacities. The intelligence agencies need more staff and must be better equipped, both technologically and in terms of personnel. The US, he noted, invests significantly more in its intelligence services and while money cannot solve all problems, a better-equipped Verfassungsschutz or BND would significantly enhance their effectiveness and impact.
Von Notz also accused the Union and SPD of having underestimated the threat from Moscow for too long. He claimed that the government, under both Angela Merkel and Olaf Scholz, had downplayed the real security situation and prioritized economic projects, such as the Nord Stream pipelines, over national security concerns. Many partner countries, he said, had expressed concerns about Germany’s actions, calling them “crazy.” The security agencies’ warnings were also ignored.