Concerns are being raised regarding the government’s response to the increasing prevalence of drone incidents across Germany. Konstantin von Notz, Green Party expert on internal affairs, has publicly criticized Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU), alleging a delayed reaction to the escalating threat posed by drone activity, which he characterized as a persistent hybrid threat attributed to Russia.
Von Notz acknowledged recent efforts to improve collaboration between the federal government and state authorities. However, he emphasized the lack of a current situational assessment regarding the daily occurrence of drone flights, highlighting a critical knowledge gap hindering effective countermeasures.
Regarding the proposed deployment of the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) to assist, Von Notz stressed that maintaining public safety and responding to disturbances is primarily a police responsibility. He argues that law enforcement agencies require specialized technology to effectively counter drone-based surveillance and espionage. Dobrindt, he stated, cannot simply delegate this responsibility to the Bundeswehr and must instead facilitate a rapid, constitutionally sound solution involving all relevant stakeholders.
Adding to the criticism, Clara Bünger, spokeswoman for the Left Party’s internal affairs committee, cautioned against a potential creeping militarization of domestic security. Bünger accuses Dobrindt’s proposals of potentially leveraging isolated incidents to justify the creation of legal frameworks for military operations within Germany, a move she argues contradicts fundamental constitutional principles. She maintains that Bundeswehr deployments within Germany should be reserved for catastrophes of exceptional magnitude and warns that expanding their role could create a precedent for their continual use within the country.
