From Espionage to Drones… Germany Moves to Counter the Hybrid War
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said on Sunday that Germany is being subjected on a daily basis to what he described as “hybrid warfare attacks” originating from abroad.
His remarks came after a suspected attack attempt involving an explosives-laden drone at Leipzig/Halle Airport.
Speaking to Bild am Sonntag, Dobrindt said that Germany “is not at war,” but that it is “a daily target of hybrid warfare.”
He explained that, in his assessment, foreign powers are seeking to exert political and societal pressure on Germany by spreading fear, pointing to espionage, sabotage, cyberattacks and covert operations as ongoing threats.
He added that these activities are intended to destabilize Germany or inflict direct damage on the country.
Explosives-Laden Drone
The German interior minister’s remarks followed the discovery last Tuesday of an explosives-laden drone at Leipzig/Halle Airport in eastern Germany.
The incident prompted warnings about the threats posed by drones, while reports indicated that some German lawmakers had accused Russia of being behind the incident.
The minister did not, however, formally accuse any specific party of being responsible for the drone.
Espionage, Sabotage and Cyberattacks
Dobrindt outlined several forms of threats facing Germany, citing espionage, sabotage, cyberattacks and covert operations carried out by foreign powers.
He said these activities could be aimed at destabilizing Germany or causing direct damage to the country.
New Facility for Drone Security
As part of efforts to address the risks posed by drones, Dobrindt announced that a specialized research facility dedicated to drone security would be established in a little over a week at the German Aerospace Center’s flight-test facility in Cochstedt, in the state of Saxony-Anhalt.
He explained that the facility would be unique in Germany and would be dedicated to researching, developing and testing drone technologies.
Increasing Security Measures
The German interior minister’s statements come in the aftermath of the incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport, amid discussions by German authorities about strengthening capabilities to respond to drones and the threats associated with them.
Dobrindt places the incident within a broader range of activities that he describes as part of “hybrid warfare,” including espionage, sabotage, cyberattacks and covert operations.
