The anticipated tightening of Germany’s policy toward Russia is causing political unrest in Berlin. As reported by the “Welt”, opposition parties, including The Left and the AfD, are warning against a potential spiral of military buildup.
Last weekend, “Welt am Sonntag” reported on information from government circles that the German government plans to publicly attribute responsibility for the attempted explosive drone attack in Leipzig to Moscow this week, and will initiate comprehensive measures.
However, not everyone is supportive of this rapid designation. Clara Bünger, a security expert from The Left, argued that such an attribution should not rely solely on intelligence assessments that lack independent review. Her faction rejected the idea of using the attack as justification for further military escalation or expanding internal surveillance powers, insisting that security policy requires a measured approach.
The AfD voiced accusations of bias, criticizing the federal government for measuring Russia and Ukraine with a “double standard.” Markus Frohnmaier, the AfD faction’s foreign policy spokesperson, stated that the investigation results must be presented to the Bundestag before any actions are taken against Russia. He pointed out that the government failed to impose political consequences when the Nord Stream pipelines were attacked.
Agreement for a tougher stance is emerging from the governing coalition. Siemtje Möller, Deputy SPD faction leader, stated that if Russia’s responsibility for the Leipzig airport incident is confirmed, consequences must follow. She called for a package of concrete measures, including the expulsion of Russian diplomats, the permanent closure of the Russian House in Berlin, and additional, targeted EU sanctions, particularly a more decisive approach against the Russian shadow fleet.
Meanwhile, Konstantin von Notz, deputy faction leader of the Greens, criticized the government’s previous inaction, calling it a massive security failure that has only emboldened Vladimir Putin in his aggressive actions against the West. According to government circles, the planned steps now involve a combination of national German measures and new EU sanctions being prepared simultaneously in Brussels.
