The escalating geopolitical instability demands a profound shift in individual and collective preparedness, according to Schleswig-Holstein’s Interior Minister Sabine Sütterlin-Waack. In a recent interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Sütterlin-Waack urged citizens to proactively prepare for potential crisis and conflict scenarios, reflecting a growing recognition that Germany exists in a precarious interzone – neither definitively at peace nor engaged in outright war.
Sütterlin-Waack emphasized that while state authorities are actively engaged in population protection measures, a full-scale evacuation and provision of resources for the entire population in a genuine emergency is simply untenable. “Citizens must be prepared to manage with what they have at home” she stated, advocating for stockpiling essential supplies such as food, water, candles, flashlights, camping stoves and potentially generators, sufficient for several days of self-sufficiency.
The Interior Minister’s call highlights a disconnect she observes between the evolving threat landscape and public perception. “We live in a different time than we did five years ago, yet I still get the impression that many in Germany view these concerns as distant and unlikely”. This remark points to a potential failure in effective risk communication from the government and the possible underestimation of the challenges posed by hybrid threats.
The north of Germany, including Schleswig-Holstein, has recently come under increased scrutiny concerning potential hybrid threats. Sütterlin-Waack characterized the recent drone incursions as less about reconnaissance and more about sowing widespread anxiety and destabilization, describing them as “small, repeated jabs.
Responding to criticism that authorities remain ill-equipped to detect or neutralize drone activity – a recurring issue highlighted by summer 2024 incidents – Sütterlin-Waack insisted that Schleswig-Holstein has developed a comprehensive drone concept. This includes, crucially, the ability to “shoot down” unauthorized drones when necessary. Despite challenging fiscal constraints, ten new positions have been created within the state police and the intelligence service (Verfassungsschutz) to facilitate this enhanced capability. This strategic investment underscores a broader effort to ensure governmental and administrative function and to safeguard the provision of resources for the population, in the event of a crisis. The move reflects a necessary recalibration of priorities, shifting focus from reactive crisis management to proactive resilience building, but also raises questions about the long-term sustainability of such measures given ongoing budgetary pressures.
